Three years ago today, April 30, 2007, NAS Whidbey Island was contacted to aid in the search for three missing canoers off Lummi Point in Bellingham Bay. They had vanished the evening before while attending a barbecue. One of the missing was my son, Christopher Gust.

An exhaustive search was launched. At one time, five helicopters were searching for those missing as well as search and rescue scouring the beach, but nobody was found that day, or the next.  Another intense search ensued the following weekend and still nobody was found. Finally, 17 days later, a body was recovered on the beach and identified the next day as my son.

With such great tragedy comes an endearing gratitude to everyone involved.  I am forever touched by the strangers who took the time to look for my son, whether it be their duty or their passion, my life has been forever touched and changed.  I have experienced the best humanity has to offer through this tragedy and for this I wish to give a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone at NAS Whidbey Island.

Three people lost their lives in this tragedy — my son; Bonnie Robinson, my son’s girlfriend; and Guy Nutter, a friend.  Bonnie was recovered the day after my son, while three days later the body of Guy was retrieved from the water by the Bellingham Coast Guard.

Too often the end of a search and rescue rarely gets told or how the seemingly unselfish act of those involved touched the lives of those who just lost their loved ones. After my son was found, I remember my daughter and I showing up at the Coast Guard center in Bellingham, with a large fruit basket as our way to say “thank you.”

Etched in my mind is seeing the tears of sorrow I saw from each of the personnel who knew I had just lost my son. What they didn’t realize though, is that the unknown would have been so much worse.

On my son’s headstone is engraved “Christopher Wayne Gust, October 22, 1976 – April 29, 2007.” I will never have an answer to the question “When did he die?” But each time I visit his grave, I stare at the “dash,” remembering, how very fortunate I am that this child touched my life for 30 years, and each time I stare at this “dash,” I will remember how humbled I am to have been touched so deeply by strangers who took the time to look for my son, and I will whisper a quiet “thank you.”

NOTE: The NAS Whidbey Island SAR crew responding to this canoe accident three years ago today included: Helicopter Aircraft Commander, Lt. Joel Randolph; co-pilot, Lt. Robert Hight; crew chief, Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremiah Brown; Search and Rescue swimmer, Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Vignjevic; and Search and Rescue medical technician, Petty Officer 1st Class Greg Highfill.