The Unnamed Column*

Saturday, April 19, was a sad day in Laguna Beach. A memorial service, party, and paddle out were all happening for local Mark Metherell, a husband, father, soldier, and waterman.

Mark died two weeks ago in Iraq. He was a talented and respected Navy Seal who grew up in Laguna Beach. He was an active member in the Little Church by the Sea as well as a local Laguna surfer.

I never had the chance to meet Mark even though we had been going to the same church and were friends with the same people there. But from all the stories that I have heard of him, he sounds like a special, loyal, brave, and honest man that I regret never having met or shared a conversation with.

Last Saturday, though, I returned from a surf contest in San Diego in order to make it back for a paddle out for Mark, scheduled at 4 o'clock at Brooks Street, or so I thought. A paddle out is a special practice of surf communities throughout the world to honor fellow friends who have passed away. We planned to paddle out to second reef and form a circle while holding hands. Someone typically paddles into the middle of the circle and says something about the person being honored and then everyone in the circle splashes the water with their hands.

Too bad there was a huge sewage spill two days earlier on Diamond Street that prevented all of us from going in the water. I've heard many estimates about how much sewage actually went into the ocean, from 10,000 gallons to 80,000 gallons. Either way, it wasn't safe for Mark's family and friends to paddle out.

Instead, paddle out party host Dave Vanderveen suggested that we all walk down to Brooks Street beach anyway to cast into the water the flowers that were planned for the paddle out. The flowers were provided for everyone that came.

Everyone left swimsuits and surfboards behind in their cars as 100 or so people made their way to the ceremony for Mark about 5 p.m. I couldn't help but notice there was a substantial swell that would have made it very hard to conduct a paddle out. So given a bad situation, it worked out perfectly. A medium tide allowed enough space for the crowd on the sand without risk of getting wet. Since the waves where big, Brad Coleman, pastor of the Little Church By the Sea, had to raise his voice when saying a prayer for Mark so everyone could hear. Most everyone closed their eyes and bowed their heads as he spoke. Collectively, we all tossed our flowers into the contaminated but beautiful ocean.

In the end, it wasn't such a sad day. After talking with many people about Mark, I realized just how many people this man influenced and affected in a positive way. Though I was sad Mark was no longer with us, I also felt a measure of happiness that he lived such a full and beautiful life and touched so many people across the world. Mark Metherell was a local hero who fought for his country and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and by some who didn't. Ryah Arthur is a recent Laguna Beach High School graduate, a professional surfer, and a new columnist to the paper. *Arthur has yet to settle on a name for his column and invites the public to send him suggestions. He promises a free surf lesson to the winner. Email suggestions to him at ryah1@mac.com.