The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) announced the presentation of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators' (NASBLA) Award of Commendation and State Parks' Recreational Boating Life Saving Award to Gerald Gust of Ulster Park. The awards will be presented at Historic Senate House in Kingston, NY in recognition of a rescue of two boaters from the Rondout Creek in Ulster County that Mr. Gust made on October 27.

The National Award of Commendation is given to persons who have exhibited heroism and faced risks to their own lives in saving another person involved in a recreational boating incident. Since its inception in 2008, it has been awarded seven times to New York State boaters. 

The New York State Parks Recreational Boating Life Saving Award recognizes the ultimate boating Good Samaritan who comes to the aid of another boater in life-threatening distress and successfully rescues them.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation maintains and operates 179 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.