SALISBURY — Robert “Boots” Chouinard, a member of the Greatest Generation, will be recognized for generations to come after the Salisbury Beach Reservation’s lifeguard command station was renamed in his honor.
The ceremony, held Tuesday at the station, was attended by local leaders such as Gov. Maura Healey, lifeguards, first responders and others who wished to honor him.
Chouinard, 101, is a Salisbury resident who began lifeguarding at Salisbury Beach after graduating from high school in 1943.
Chouinard has served many roles in the community, becoming a beloved local hero.
So, to honor his commitment to the town, the Salisbury Board of Selectmen made a unanimous request to recognize his contributions.
Later, legislation sponsored by state Senator Bruce Tarr was passed on Jan. 8, making the designation official.
The ceremony offered local leaders, residents and others the chance to recognize and celebrate Chouinard’s service over the years. Others making the trip included Tarr, state Rep. Dawne Shand, D-Newburyport, Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tapper and the entire Salisbury Board of Selectmen.
The Salisbury and Newburyport fire departments also contributed to the ambiance by hanging the American flag between extended ladder trucks at the reservation’s entrance.
During the ceremony, Chouinard was presented with a plaque soon to be hung on the lifeguard station bearing his name.
While the ceremony focused on Chouinard’s accomplishments, he shifted the focus back to Salisbury Beach lifeguards as he addressed the crowd.
“I’m so proud to have been a lifeguard for all these years, and I look at them today and I still feel so proud of the job they’re doing,” he said.
Healey also spoke at the ceremony and personally thanked Chouinard for his decades of service.
“You served our country, you served the cause of worldwide freedom. You served incredible missions in the Army and World War II. You spent your entire life in service. When you returned, your commitment to Salisbury, to Newburyport, to our great state of Massachusetts was unparalleled,” Healey said.
Healey, whose parents hail from Newburyport, said the event held a personal significance for her because of her ties to the area.
“It’s so heartwarming. It’s so special. I grew up here, this area means a lot to me personally, and Boots is just an incredibly special person. It’s a privilege, frankly, as governor, to be part of an effort to honor someone like Boots,” she said.
Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington shared a similar sentiment.
“It’s a special day for Boots and his family and for the whole community of Salisbury. I’m so pleased that so many people came here. And, so many people with smiles on their faces and taking pictures, elected officials, the governor. It was a perfect day,” Harrington said.
As the ceremony concluded and people chattered excitedly, Chouinard reflected on the tribute and what it meant to be immortalized in Salisbury.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s a nice way to end up one’s life,” he said.