Five Life Rings have been installed at Emerald Estates and Peace Mound Parks as part of the Aden Perry Hero Life Ring Initiative. Aden Perry was a student at Western High School who tragically lost his life trying to save an individual from a car that veered off the road and was submerged in a canal on April 20, 2022.

Just 17 years of age when he lost his life,  Aden's heroic actions earned him the Carnegie Hero Fund Medal, North America's highest honor for heroism by a civilian.  Today, his mother Sarah Perry, dedicates her life to ensuring that lifesaving, Coast Guard regulated rescue rings are available near water bodies so this tragedy does not occur to others.  She started a foundation, named for her son, the Aden Perry Good Samaritan and Scholarship Fund, which supplies the Rescue Rings, rope and a basic wood post. The City opted to fund the city standard sign post and the installation took place on December 10, 2023 with Sarah Perry proudly in attendance.

We asked Ms. Perry to tell us about her initiative:

"The Aden Perry Hero Life Ring Initiative was created in honor of my son Aden and his final and most Heroic Act.  Aden died trying to save the life of a driver who drove their car into a lake.  There wasn't anything there that night that he could have used to save the driver when he called out for help so my son jumped in and unfortunately hit his head on a rock, broke his neck and died. 

To save lives and to prevent another Good Samaritan from suffering the same fate as my son, I am on a mission to have one of Aden's Hero Life Rings with  his image and Hero message on them installed in every city and by every body of water possible so that the next time there is someone in distress in the water, there will be something there to be used to save a life. 

"THROW DON'T GO" is our message!  It is a known fact that even the best swimmer can be drowned by a person in distress in the water.  As our signs say...CALL 911..THROW DON'T GO!!!"

 Pictured L to R: Kara Petty, Director of Parks & Recreation, Don Decker, City Manager, Sarah Perry, Todd Draizin, Fire Chief, and Andrew Lopez, Maintenance Supervisor, Parks & Recreation.