Surfers sometimes get a bum rap for soaking in the sun and being so laid back. That wasn’t the case on Saturday when 102 ocean-loving volunteers, mostly a mix of surfers and military veterans, joined forces and stormed the beach at Ocean Beach Pier in a beach clean up organized by nonprofit One More Wave. Volunteers at the event filled 45 bags with trash and recyclables.
One More Wave is a local, non-profit organization that was dear to the heart of Coronado’s own, Charles H. Keating IV. He actively participated in this organization by helping wounded or disabled veterans get back in the water.
At the start of the “One More Wave of Commitment” beach cleanup, Vice President Kyle Buckett addressed the volunteers and shared his passion for helping wounded veterans through ocean therapy. Buckett expressed One More Wave’s commitment to keep the beach a safe, clean and restorative space for veterans to experience the ocean’s healing effects.
“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart and from the bottom of One More Wave’s heart, for being out here to support us today,” Buckett said.
Volunteers were quickly motivated into action and spread out along the shoreline to get to work.
Among the volunteers combing the beach was One More Wave veteran recipient Pete Slayden. Slayden praised One More Wave for the support they give to veterans.
“I consider myself, as I always joke, an ‘official unofficial ambassador’ of One More Wave,” he said. “I got a board from One More Wave last year and that alone is enough to get me me out to support the cause.”
