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Council hails local hero
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Posted on Mar 08 2001
A man who became an overnight hero after saving the lives of three children last month was honored with a Municipal Council Commemorative Resolution recognizing and congratulating him for his gallantry.
Miguel Aldan of San Vicente Village was accorded the award by the Sixth Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council.
Adopted last February 27, the council commended Mr. Aldan for his quick response in saving the lives of Jack Paul Celis, Gary T. Garong and Michael D. Ramon.
Mr. Aldan, a Commonwealth Ports Authority employee, was with his brother testing out their boat’s engine last Feb. 19 when he saw a few kids clinging on a floating piece of bamboo not far away from the Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa.
The boys have apparently drifted away from the pier and were desperately in need of help.
After being alerted by the presence of police emergency vehicles near the dock, Mr. Aldan sensed something was amiss and immediately stirred his boat towards the direction of the hapless children.
As it happened, the two boys tried to swim back to safer waters but were driven further out to sea by the strong current. The other boy stayed on the bamboo raft, which by now had drifted dangerously outside the reef.
Luckily, Mr. Aldan was in the vicinity and was able to save all three boys and by his action gained forever the affection of the children’s family and a grateful community.
The Municipal Council citation, however was not the first received by the local hero, Police Commissioner Charles Ingram also handed to Mr. Aldan a letter of commendation expressing the Department of Public Safety’s gratitude and admiration for his bravery.
It was found out later, through the children’s own recollections, that they did not accidentally fell into the water, as first surmised, but rather were pushed by a group of 11 local teenagers.
Police originally thought the three kids were playing on the shore with the bamboo raft when strong currents carried them to perilous waters.
