People asked to ‘paddle out’ to remember victims of earthquake
SM PIER — As billions of dollars pour into Southeast Asia for the tsunami relief efforts, Santa Monicans are doing their part through monetary donations, as well as observing the devastation that’s occurred.
A tsunami memorial service will be held on Saturday at the Santa Monica Pier. The service will represent a diverse community effort to express shared grief for the victims and survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami that struck 11 countries.
The service is designed to “relieve a sense of helplessness we have,” said organizer Joni Conterno.
It’s also an opportunity to raise funds for victims, as well as to educate local residents on how prepared emergency responders would be if an earthquake occurred in Santa Monica Bay.
Hosted by the Surf Academy, the event will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 1 p.m., rain or shine. The event will raise funds for the Santa Monica chapter of the Red Cross, UNICEF and Save the Children, so those organizations can continue international disaster response efforts.
Organizers say what makes the outdoor memorial unique is that attendees may participate in rituals both ancient and familiar. There will be two distinct parts to the service. Most people will be familiar with the traditions of the first part as clergy from five faiths will lead the group in prayer. Children will offer a prayer and release doves of hope.
“It will really turn into a liturgy,” said Mary Setterholm, a member of the Surf Academy and organizer of the event. “It doesn’t really matter what faith you are. When disaster strikes, we’re all in this together, and you better have faith.”
Twelve surfboards, representing the 11 countries affected by the tsunami and a 12th one that represents all visitors to the area, will be carried onto the pier and subsequently into the water. The boards are meant to represent the tens of thousands of lives lost in the disaster, Setterholm said.
The second segment of the event is where the culture of the sea emerges through mass participation of surfers and paddlers who bring their surfboards and wetsuits for the “paddle out” portion. People are asked to paddle out at the end of the pier and sit on their boards in a circle formation. Men and women of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate.
Those remaining on the pier are asked to participate in a scripted communal dialogue with those in the water. It’s geared toward the desire for those in love with the sea as a refuge to take the sorrow directly to “her,” organizers say.
“There also is a need to pray for ourselves and our future safety,” Setterholm said. “We are going to be facing disasters like this in the future. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when.’ It’s quite real, and archaeological evidence shows tsunamis have happened in Santa Monica Bay.”
Personnel from the Coast Guard, Los Angeles County Lifeguards and the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors will speak to the community about local tsunami preparedness.
The ancient Four Corners prayer will be led by a Chumash Indian chief. The intention is to pray to the four corners of the world.
“It’s a way of recognizing the vastness of the world, the power of nature and the seasons,” Setterholm said.
The service will conclude with the sound of the conch shell as flowers are sent out to sea, along with the 12 surfboards. “Rest in peace” will be said in several languages.
Organizers hope Saturday’s rain forecast won’t be a deterrent for people to participate.
“People lost their lives; we can do this in the rain,” Setterholm said. “We’re going to be wet anyway.”
Call (310) 372-2790 for more information about the memorial service. The event is free, but it costs $7 to park on the pier. Alternative transportation is preferred. Participants are asked to bring flowers and flower wreaths, but nothing artificial that could harm marine life. Surfers are asked to bring their own gear, and the dress code is “beach casual.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 7, 2005. Read the original PDF.