Category: Featured

By Heather Bennett

One of the many great things about living along The Emerald Coast is our sense of community.  We cheer on one another, we pray for one another, and we show up for one another when we are in need. Our community is passionate about showing up for each other during the holiday season in particular.

This Thanksgiving is a little different than others. We’re a community full of hopeful people still recovering from the economic impact of Covid-19 on top of our everyday struggles. There are some really great nonprofit organizations and businesses here making sure that we still have a holiday meal to share with our families.

Caring and Sharing in South Walton will be providing holiday food items for pick up November 16th-20th, the week before Thanksgiving. People must apply by filling out an eligibility form and qualify for assistance, and must live in Walton County. They will get items for a holiday meal like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, a turkey or ham and produce. Caring and Sharing are expecting around 300 families to pick up meals. They are looking for any additional volunteers to help pack meals, and to hand out food the week of pick up. If you are interested in donating or volunteering you can contact them at 850-267-2866 or visit their website at https://caringandsharingsowal.org for more information.

Food For Thought will be providing a pick up service for the families that are enrolled in their school programs in Walton and Okaloosa Counties, which will take place at different locations. They will be providing food that children need during Thanksgiving break, which is about 10 meals, and they will also receive food for a holiday meal that includes a turkey, rolls and fresh produce. Donations are always welcome. Their holiday food list includes instant potatoes, stuffing, cornbread mix, canned veggies and rice. You can check out their website at https://fftfl.org to learn more about donating food or how you can sponsor a family at Thanksgiving for just $40. If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved, you can email volunteer@fftfl.org to learn about volunteering opportunities.

Harvest House Destin will be providing food items for an all inclusive holiday meal to cook at home. Any families in the Destin, Sandestin and Mack Bayou areas who are in need of a holiday meal can contact Harvest House and they will be sent an invitation to attend a drive-through pick-up on distribution day Monday, November 23rd. Harvest House is always looking for food donations if you are interested in donating. They are down to a limited number of volunteers, so if you are looking for volunteer opportunities you can call them at 850-837-2277 to find out how you can help. You can also check out their website at http://www.harvesthousedestin.org.

The annual Crop Drop Destin, which provides over 80,000 pounds of produce to more than 50 agencies and 6,000 families for Thanksgiving each year, is still scheduled to take place. They are still waiting on the details of how their produce will be delivered this year. The organization coordinates with farmers in Florida and Mississippi to buy produce that wasn’t sold to the marketplace. Donations and sponsors are always welcome. The more produce they can buy, the more people they can reach. If you are interested in donating you can visit their website at http://www.cropdrop.org. Keep visiting their website or Facebook page for more details on the Crop Drop event as they unfold.

In addition to the nonprofit organizations, two restaurants will be hosting free meals on Thanksgiving. AJs on the Bayou in Fort Walton Beach will have free meals available. Harbor Docks will have free Thanksgiving meals to go. Donations are welcome.

This year, as every year, I am thankful for being a part of such a great community. I hope everyone gets to share a warm Thanksgiving meal with the people they love and care about.

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By Heather Bennett

Hope is an optimistic feeling, based on the desire or wish for a positive outcome. Hope can also be faith in the unknown. For HOPE Project, Inc, hope means Healing Our Patriots With Equines. Through equine therapy, this nonprofit organization is giving hope to Veterans, First Responders and their families, as well as children, teens and adults that have PTSD or have trauma from physical or sexual abuse.

Located in Fountain, Florida HOPE Project was founded by Veteran David Trogdon. David served our country on active duty for 25 years, and spent the last 16 years as an Army Chaplain. He spent 3 years in Iraq and Afghanistan. David retired medically from the Army with 3 traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. After leaving Fort Benning, he helped friends rescue horses from kill pens here in Florida, and the Hope Project was developed bringing together both animals and veterans that needed healing.

The equine therapy used at HOPE Project is based on the Eagala Model that incorporates a certified mental health professional and a certified equine specialist working together with the horses and clients. Horses react to the client’s emotions and the horse’s behavior will change as the client’s emotions change. This provides information to the therapist.

“Horses are truly amazing, and God’s given them these abilities where a horse can read your body language and your facial expressions, and because they are so emotional, they also know your emotions,” David said. “When I’m having a tough time or a down day, the horses know it and they’ll come up and check on me.”

HOPE Project provides free counseling, resources and equine therapy to Veterans, First Responders and their families, children, teens and adults who have been physically or sexually abused. They don’t turn anyone away that needs help. “It’s been a blessing to help anyone who’s been hurting,” said David. “Last month we reached out to over 100 people who needed help.”

Instead of talking to a counselor at an office, clients will spend time with David and their equine specialist in the arena, interacting with the horses as they are given tasks to complete while answering questions.  “We’ve had Vietnam Vets with severe PTSD that haven’t talked to anyone, but I’ve seen them talk to a horse for over an hour and cry,” said David. “It totally transforms their lives, and I know what it does for me.”

HOPE Project is completely nonprofit. They currently have 10 horses, 2 donkeys, 6 goats and cats. The horses were rescued from kill pens, are retired from racing or displaced from Hurricane Michael. HOPE Project operates solely on donations and volunteers. Many spend 20-40 hours a week there. Most are medically retired like David, and some work full time, but volunteer because they believe in the work  “We have the best volunteers in the world. We appreciate all our volunteers and all who help,” said David.

HOPE Project also has some great partners and projects. One of the HOPE volunteer staff is a Retired Air Force First Sergeant who owns 20 acres off Highway 20. She provides free riding therapy for Veterans and others. They also work with Alaqua Animal Refuge where they come out to provide therapy there. HOPE Project is also a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. After Hurricane Michael they were a distribution center for over 6,000 people. They have also held suicide prevention training on site.

David said HOPE Project is currently working on raising money to build a covered arena so they can provide therapy regardless of the weather and the elements. “The Chaplain in me says God provides,” said David. “We’ve been very blessed.”

If you are interested in more information on donating or therapy, you can visit their Website at hopeprojectinc.org.

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Last week, as Hurricane Sally made her way across the Florida Panhandle, the Habitat ReStore in Walton County was left with 19 inches of standing water in their store and throughout their entire property. Unfortunately, the flooding caused extensive damage and destroyed all of the inventory the ReStore had on hand forcing them to close until further notice.

“Our team and community work hard to ensure our store is stocked with quality furniture and construction materials. It is such a shame that all of that was lost in just a few hours due to the flooding ” said Teresa Imdieke, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore.

This is not the first time the ReStore in Walton County has experienced a devastating loss due to flooding. In May of 2014, the property flooded during heavy rains over a three day period.

In February of 2020 the Restore broke ground on the site of their new store off of Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach. The threat of flooding was one of the many reasons the organization decided to move to a larger, better positioned facility. Their new building is expected to be complete in the Spring of 2021.

“Unfortunately, our programs and new building rely on the income from our current ReStore and this unexpected closure is going to make things difficult,” said Imdeke. “We were already struggling with closures due to COVID 19, all of our fundraising events being cancelled, and now this. I feel like we got kicked when we were already down.”

Over the last several days, volunteers have helped the ReStore team clean up their property and fill ten construction dumpsters full of unsalvageable items. The organization is relying on continued community support to get back up and running as soon as possible. “Our community needs the ReStore more than ever right now. Our store offers affordable construction materials and furniture that will be needed by the families impacted by Hurricane Sally,” said Imdeke. “We need your help filling our store back up with quality material as soon as possible.”

The organization has a list of needed items on their website https://waltoncountyhabitat.org.

For more information on how you can support their recovery efforts please call 850- 660-1681 or email admin@waltoncountyhabitat.org or go to their website for a list of donatable items.

Walton County ReStore operates as a nonprofit organization under the umbrella of Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, proceeds from the ReStore go toward the Habitat for Humanity mission of eliminating substandard housing. ReStore provides access to lower-cost building materials and household goods to the community, fulfills our

responsibility to the environment by keeping quality goods out of the landfill, and generates funds to build more Habitat houses in Walton County.

Habitat for Humanity of Walton County works to provide affordable housing for working-class citizens. Recipients are selected through an application process and sold a home for its exact building price at zero percent interest. Last year, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County received $130,801 back in mortgage payments and over 4,745 nights were spent under the roof of a Habitat Home in our community.

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Just in time for the back-to-school-season, Walton County Public Library System announces the launch of its new Tutor.com program. Tutor.com connects students at their time of need to one of over 3,000 highly vetted expert tutors. With instant access to one-to-one homework help and tutoring, students can lower their anxiety and raise their confidence about their schoolwork. Over 95% of Tutor.com student users surveyed said that having the service available helped them complete their homework and improve their grades.

“This is very helpful. It’s helping me get good grades and it helps me have a
study partner when I don’t have one.”  —5th Grade Math Student

Tutor.com provides online, on-demand academic tutoring, homework help, and test preparation to kindergarten through 12th grade students, plus early college students and adult learners. Any library patron can connect with a highly qualified, expert tutor in a safe and secure online classroom. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects and test prep areas from 2:00PM -9:00PM. Tutor.com also offers expert writing help, test prep resources from The Princeton Review® for the ACT®/SAT®, Advanced Placement (AP®) course videos, and more. Many resources are available 24/7.

To access the service, please visit www.youseemore.com/walton and click on the Tutor.com link at the bottom of the homepage.

Tutor.com’s Online, On-Demand Academic Help for K-12 through College Students & Adult Learners Includes:

• Academic Tutoring: Students of all ages can get help with homework, test preparation, skills and concepts from class, AP test preparation. Subjects include math, science, writing, English, Spanish, social studies, ACT/SAT, practice tests for the GED, HiSET and ASVAB exams as well as for the following graduate school exams: GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, and MCAT®. Microsoft® Office tutoring is also available to Tutor.com users.
• Writing Help: Tutor.com’s expert writing tutors do more than offer feedback on students’ grammar and mechanics; they help students become better writers. They achieve this by focusing on higher-order concerns and offering students comprehensive, constructive feedback. Students can submit their essays, book reports, and even their college or scholarship application essays for (1) live, on-demand writing help in an interactive, online classroom, or (2) for review through Tutor.com’s Drop-Off Writing Review service. The latter option allows tutors to work asynchronously to provide thorough feedback to students with 12-hour turnaround.

• ACT and SAT Essentials from The Princeton Review: Students preparing for college entrance exams can take practice ACT and SAT tests, receive a full score report that includes suggested areas for review, view video lessons on tested concepts, and use The Princeton Review’s practice drills to help reach their target scores.
• Graduate School Entrance Exam Practice: Adults preparing to apply to graduate or professional degree programs can use The Princeton Review’s practice tests for GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT exams to focus their study time on areas in need of improvement.
• Practice Quizzes: Students preparing for an end-of-chapter test, final exam, or standardized test can use Tutor.com’s Practice Quizzes to assess their knowledge on over 100 areas in math, science, and social studies. Practice quizzes are also available for the ASVAB military entrance exam.
• Videos lessons: Students can access video lessons 24/7 for AP courses as well as subject-area lessons for math and English to review or learn new concepts.

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Nightmares are not always only in the realm of the unconscious. They are often manifested through abuse and addiction. It is overwhelmingly common for people to find themselves going from a bad situation to a worse situation when drugs and other abuses become involved. Those struggling are often left to “figure it out” by family and friends, and, many times, “figuring it out” results in deeper addiction, more abuse and sometimes suicide. Abandonment is a common theme for these people, and even those who are able to pull themselves out of the depths into a state of recovery are soon forgotten and left to once again “figure it out.” In spite of this, there are some whose love for other people has driven them to create a better future for those struggling in addiction. Dawn Siegal is one of these people.

Dawn knows firsthand the immense effort it takes to recover from a drug addiction. She was held in the grips of addiction for many years. This gives Dawn a unique viewpoint on others who are struggling in the same arena. Her overcomer’s spirit has gifted her with a passion for helping other women gain complete freedom as well. Dawn feels that one of the best ways she can do this is through opening a women’s home, Saving Grace, for those who have just begun their journey into recovery.

Saving Grace Women’s Home will be a place for those who desire to develop a new life free from the devastation of any kind of addiction or abuse. Its purpose is to provide an effective and comprehensive Christian faith-based solution to life-controlling problems.

When asked where her inspiration for Saving Grace has come from, Dawn wholeheartedly believes it was her own struggles with addiction and those who helped rescue her. “I know what it did for me, and what it will do for others,” she commented.

What will the women’s home look like? Dawn wants to begin with a smaller program, housing between 10 and 15 women at any given time. It will be a 12-month faith-based program. Staff will live in the home as well, in hopes that the women will always feel like they have a support system around them. The women can expect to adhere to a fixed schedule, which will include time for prayer, teaching, and engaging in various creative outlets. These women will have multiple opportunities to fundraise for both their future and the future of other women in bad situations. After the 12-month program, these women will have the chance to begin their life anew, choosing to sign up for an internship program with the women’s home where they can engage in helping other women succeed with a better life as well, or venturing out on their own and creating a new life from there.

Going forward, Dawn said that she would like to see Saving Grace expand far beyond just Northwest Florida. Next steps would include a center in South Florida, then expanding into other states. When asked how far Dawn could see this going, she commented, “I would love to see it worldwide.” The amount of lives that could be changed through a worldwide program like this would be too many count.

The thing that Dawn finds most rewarding about creating the women’s home is the amount of transformation that will take place in each woman’s life. So many of these women have been broken and beat down since childhood, and the difference that can be made by even one person who truly loves them is enormous. There is something incredible that happens when people realize that there is another way, and that they deserve to be happy.

Saving Grace will focus primarily on women who have been abuse victims, have been recently incarcerated, and struggle with drug addiction. They are expected to begin the program with the first round of women in early 2021. Saving Grace partners with another program for men, Project Hope Restoration. Right now, the thing that is needed most is funding. They will be holding an annual banquet in conjunction with Project Hope on Nov. 1, 2020, where they hope to raise enough funds to get everything prepared to open the home, including staffing costs.

Dawn believes that the best thing the community could do to help people in this situation is to simply become aware of it. Often, people who are not struggling with addiction and abuse have an unintentional unawareness of those who are. However, gaining that cognizance and reaching out to those who feel trapped is the first step to a changed life. There’s always hope that a loved one can be well and productive, whether it’s their first time or their hundredth. Change is always possible, and Saving Grace is proving it.

You can help! Visit Saving Grace at www.facebook.com/gracewomenshomeFL or call (850) 865-7939.

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Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, beginning Monday July 27, 2020, a facial mask will be required to enter all lobby areas of the Walton County Tax Collector Offices in DeFuniak Springs, Freeport and Santa Rosa Beach.  We are limiting services to Walton County residents only during this time.  We are also allowing only the number of Customers inside the office necessary to complete their transaction, unless the customer needs assistance (i.e. parent with a juvenile, customer caregiver, etc.)

We encourage customers to utilize other options to complete their transactions which include our Customer Call Center, Drop Boxes and our Web Services at www.waltontaxcollector.com  Many of our services can be completed utilizing these methods, even from the comfort of your own home.

Our Lobby areas remain open at this time to the citizens of Walton County and we will continue to closely monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) through the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Local Health Department, Board of County Commissioners and any State of Florida Mandates that may be put into effect from the Governor’s Office.

We are doing all that we can to protect both our customers and our employees during these uncertain times.  It is our goal to continue to deliver the highest quality of service possible to the people of Walton County.  Thank you for understanding as we face this situation together.

The Office of Tax Collector is an independent, constitutional office providing state and local services. Walton County Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper and staff work to deliver the highest quality of service with people who CARE. 

In 2019, the office was recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Best Companies to Work for in Florida.”  

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Locals and Summer visitors to South Walton will once again be able to enjoy free day-use admission to Grayton Beach State Park and Topsail Hill State Park from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Walton County Tourist Development Council is paying the cost of entry for day-use visitors in order to increase available parking for beach-goers during the peak visitation season, as well as raise awareness of the variety of eco-tourism activities in the area. This year marks the fifth year of admission coverage for Topsail Hill State Park and the third for Grayton Beach State Park.

“This is our fourth summer covering day-use admission to both state parks,” says Visit South Walton Director of Communications David Demarest. “It benefits everyone, visitors and locals alike, that during the summer we effectively add two additional regional beach accesses – equipped with parking, picnic and restroom facilities, and a tremendous amount of natural beauty for guests to enjoy. This also lessens the pressure on any one stretch of beach. “

The free day-use admission is available to visitors during normal operating hours, generally 8 a.m. to sunset. The official kick-off of the event was on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and free day-use admission extends through Labor Day. For more information on Topsail Hill Preserve State Park visit www.visitsouthwalton.com/listing/topsail-hill-preserve-state-park  Grayton Beach State Park. For more information on Grayton Beach State Park please visit www.visitsouthwalton.com/listing/grayton-beach-state-park.

Walton County Transit Service ‘GoWal’ Launches June 29th

New public transit system will provide travel alternative in the region

Representatives from Walton County are announcing the launch of “GoWal”, the area’s first public transit service offering free rides to those traveling north and southbound throughout the region. The shuttle buses launched Monday, June 29 along U.S. Route 331, from DeFuniak Springs to South Walton. The service will operate Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with buses running twice in the morning and twice in the evening. The morning routes will depart from the DeFuniak Springs Courthouse with a stop in Freeport before arriving at the South Walton Annex. Full route schedules and bus stop locations can be found online at GoWalTransit.com. Each bus will feature bike racks and free WiFi, along with special accommodations for persons with disabilities. The county hopes this convenient, affordable, and comfortable alternative will provide individuals and families with a new option to commute and explore the area. Although this opportunity will most directly benefit those traveling along U.S. Route 331 for work, the service will also provide full-time residents with less traffic congestion and an increase in available parking.

“Our new shuttle buses are ideal for residents looking for an affordable commuting option between the northern and southern parts of the county,” said Mac Carpenter, Walton County Planning Director. “We hope to provide convenience and connectivity, allowing individuals to seek new employment opportunities, connect with friends and family, or simply visit one of the many local hot spots we have in the region.” The name GoWal was selected for this movement-focused initiative because we believe this new route will enable folks to physically “go” throughout Walton County. For more information, to sign-up for GoWal service updates, or to see a schedule with exact times and pick-up/drop-off locations, visit www.GoWaltransit.com.

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By Heather Bennett,

The beauty of The Emerald Coast brings together people from many walks of life, political views, religions, and races. On Independence Day we celebrate the birth of our nation in one of the most beautiful locations in the country. While some of us may disagree over the current state of affairs of this nation, most everyone agrees we love the United States of America, and the freedoms we enjoy. To celebrate this Independence Day, we asked various members of our community, from different backgrounds, what Independence Day means to them.

Susan Bowden – Sue is the President of the Democratic Women’s Club of Walton County. She is originally from Massachusetts and spent most of her adult life in Michigan before moving here with her husband in October 2016.  She has fond memories celebrating July 4th with her family at Lake Michigan. What Does Independence Day Mean to Me? “My grandparents and great grandparents all came to America in the early 1900s to escape the oppression of Eastern Europe.  The ones who stayed behind, were killed by the Nazis in World War II. I am very grateful to live in a country with free speech and a Declaration of Independence that states that all men {and women) are created equal. We don’t have a perfect union yet but at least there are many people here who stand up for change and strive to effect it.”

Tim Norris – Tim is the Walton County Republican Party Committeeman. He was born at Eglin Air Force Base to a military family and was raised in the area. Tim has enjoyed taking his family out to Crab Island to watch the fireworks in the Destin pass on the 4th of July. What Does Independence Day Mean to Me? “Independence Day means freedom. Our forefathers gave us great liberty in signing the Declaration of Independence, as did those who fought for our freedom in the Revolutionary War. All who have since fought to help us maintain our freedom are to be honored and recognized as well. Freedom isn’t free. May God Bless America and all those who have served and are currently serving.”

Lori Leath Smith – Lori is Publisher and Executive Editor of Bay Life and Destin Life. She is originally from Alabama and grew up visiting Destin with her family. On the 4th of July they would have a shrimp boil and walk down to the beach to watch the fireworks. What Does Independence Day Mean to Me? “Freedom is what Independence Day means to me! It’s also a time of remembrance of what our forefathers fought for – to guarantee our freedom, and thankfulness to be living in and positioned in the greatest country in the world!”

Clint & Effie Eagar – Clint, an industrial designer and artist, and his wife Effie, co-founder of TechX International, have a true modern-day immigrant story. Clint grew up in South Africa during apartheid, and Effie lived in mainland China. Both left their countries in search of a promising future. What Does Independence Day Mean to Me? “For both of us now citizens of this fine country we truly value all that this day truly means. For us it’s not as simple as picnics, concerts, barbecues, parades, etc. It’s not being persecuted, murdered, and all your liberties taken. It celebrates the legal journey we took and all the steps to create the life we now experience on a day to day basis. July 4th stands for what most of the world’s population craves for and the safety of our liberties. It’s interesting because my wife and I come from extremely different countries and cultural backgrounds, yet as human beings, have the common bond of hope, and the pursuit of happiness.

Russell Hughes – Russell is the Walton County Superintendent of Schools. He’s from Okaloosa County and has been a distinguished teacher, principal, coach and leader throughout the community, and has worked in the Walton County school district for 20 years.  What Does Independence Day Mean to Me “This holiday is about recognizing the privilege to make decisions about anything we can conceive if we are not infringing upon the well-being of others. In fact, our Country’s Declaration of Independence declares this to be true. As an educator, my thoughts automatically gravitate toward the expectation that all students have the opportunity and access to an excellent education. This is a right for every child in Walton County and in the world.”

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Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers, Saving Lives, Defying Death

By Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite, former Captain USCG

Immense Pacific Ocean seas rolled ashore. The frigid salt water swept into the mouth of the Oregon cave at the foot of Cape Lookout with a roar so loud, the Coast Guard helicopter hovering above was quieted.

For Aviation Survivalist Tristan Heaton, the rescue swimmer looking wide-eyed down towards the cave from the protection of the helicopter’s cabin—it was the kind of day he lived for. Nothing got his adrenaline going in such an incredible rush as when he was preparing to save lives. He was addicted to the natural injection. Looking down at the ocean he thought, “If I make it back from this one, I’m going to go back and do it again.” Heaton said he had waited all his life to “almost die” to help someone. On this day, two brothers were trapped inside the cave. The only way out for the brothers was back through the cave’s mouth, into the wild sea.
* * *

The desire to help someone, to save lives is at the core of what it means to be a first responder and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. I joined the Coast Guard to save lives and to protect the environment. After getting my appointment to the US Coast Guard Academy on the steps of Station Destin, located across from Crab Island and at the foot of the Destin bridge, I served in the U.S. Coast Guard for over 30 years at sea and ashore.

When I learned of this extraordinary cave rescue, I was a lieutenant working in the Pacific Northwest as the Coast Guard’s Public Affairs Officer. I was surprised to learn more about what happened that day and how Tristan “almost died” to save a stranger. I figured if I didn’t know about the extent of what our Coast Guard men and women do to save others, then certainly many people in America and around the world did not either. This story stuck with me as I moved from Seattle to New York and continued to serve as a Coast Guard officer. As I transitioned from active duty to active reserve, I was driven to write a book about the Coast Guard’s modern day heroes and their rescues in an effort to shine a light on our service and celebrate their sacrifices, their risks and their courage. This story was the first chapter I wrote which became So Others May Live: Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers Saving Lives, Defying Death. This book was also a template for the movie “The Guardian” starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher.

I returned to the Emerald Coast and recently retired on the steps of Station Destin, the place where my career began. Station Destin is special to me, not only because I grew up in Destin when all it was known for was “the luckiest fishing village in the world,” but also because this station for me represents the heart of the Coast Guard. The men and women of our service are selfless and tireless when it comes to their job, their mission and their dedication to save lives, and protect our coasts.

The Coast Guard is a multi-mission force and branch of the military under the Department of Homeland Security. A force of 42,00 men and women nationwide, we are similar to the size of the New York Police Department serving to defend America’s boarders and protect the maritime environment. From drug interdiction, to search and rescue, migrant interdiction, ice operations, law enforcement and marine environmental protection to aids to navigation, the Coast Guard serves at sea and ashore.

The next time you’re going over the Destin bridge or on a boat near Crab Island, honk your horn, wave hello or greet the Coast Guard men and women of Station Destin and thank them for their service. When you need help, the Coast Guard will be there just like Tristan and his aircrew.

Tristan’s fearful thoughts, looking down at the cave he was about to enter, did not get the best of him. He found the confidence in his training and in his aircrew hovering above to descend on the cable and enter the mouth of the cave to rescue a survivor. Only when the helicopter flew into the cave to help Tristan and the nearly unconscious survivor he held in his arms, did this hero escape death and rise up to see the sunrise of a new day.

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