Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
After two years of work almost exclusively done by friends, family, and volunteers, the Ben Carlson statue was unveiled last night at the Newport Pier to a fantastic reception. A particular phone call with a key person involved in the process is something that I will remember that really set the tone for me. This person was concerned that people might not like the event, the statue, or the cause (because we are all our own worst critics– even when it is unreasonable). I said “even if the statue turns out to look like a freaking raisin, the fact that it was all put together by the community is what people will see and respect the most.” From the fundraisers to the hugs to the landscaping concrete work to the 3D artistry to the news coverage, this was something that was clearly both demanded and constructed by our local folks right here in Newport in order to honor our fallen lifeguard.
The music wasn’t scheduled to begin until 6:45, but people began arriving even before my first viewing of the area at 6pm. By 6:45, things were packed to the very definition of the word. The bagpipes played. The colorguard marched. The crowd was so huge that you had to trade off having a view of the backs of peoples heads and hearing, or seeing from the back of the crowd but having the crowd be so massive that you couldn’t hear the amplified sound (if you have video of this with audio, please let me know so that the guys in the back can hear it for the first time and everyone else can relive it when they want to!).
Chris Conway, Jake Janz, and Skeeter Leeper all spoke at the event. Keeping it light-hearted, they joked about their memories with Ben, his famed love for pineapple and jalapeno pizza, and gave thanks to the community for coming together to honor Ben in such a huge way.
At the end, the statue was unveiled… and it didn’t look like a raisin at all. It was a massive 9 foot statue on a 3 foot pedestal standing 12 feet tall and standing permanent watch over our oceans. It was exactly like it was supposed to be. It was exactly what was needed. This statue culminates to many the efforts to memorialize our lost lifeguard and friend to so many– but the efforts continue from the Ben Carlson Scholarship Fund to the Ben Carlson Water Safety Program. Rest assured, you will be hearing the name “Ben Carlson” for many years to come.
Thank you to everyone involved. And thank you to Ben.
