[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 107 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1139-E1140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING BEN CARLSON

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2014

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, this coming Sunday, July 13, 2014, 
family, friends, and admirers--they are legion--of Ben Carlson will 
gather in Newport Beach, California, to honor the memory of a local 
hero. Those gathered, many wearing the favored ``aloha shirts'' and 
beach wear of his beloved surfing community, will not, however, think 
of him simply as a local hero. His heroism inspires us universally. 
Just last Sunday he perished when he jumped out of a lifeguard boat to 
save a body surfer caught in a rip current. The surfer lived. Ben was 
overwhelmed by the sort of monster wave he had spent years conquering. 
His own body, its full measure exhausted, was found three hours later. 
The beach lifestyle, Mr. Speaker, is often treated in our popular 
culture as frivolous, superficial, pampered. Many Americans and 
visitors from abroad do find the Southern California coastline to be a 
special place for recreation and relaxation, a place to restore their 
spirits. Ben Carlson confounded that image. He was the classic rugged 
individualist of American lore and legend. With his high level of 
schooling in psychology, he could have advanced through more 
traditional careers in business, education, or whatever field beckoned 
him. He chose to follow his calling on the beach, where for a decade 
and a half he protected and saved the lives of countless shoreline 
visitors, thereby contributing beyond measure to our local bounty. 
Though his distinct profile was known to those who loved him, he 
blended perfectly into the beach culture. His livelihood came courtesy 
of his status as an internationally recognized surfer and his convivial 
service behind the bar at a popular fish taco restaurant. Ben created 
his primary identity as one who chose to save lives. In my book, that 
makes him all we may expect of a true American of whom we all may be 
proud.

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