The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will present Sarah E. Gillette of Jefferson County, N.Y. with an Award of Commendation from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the Recreational Boating Life Saving Award from State Parks in recognition of her rescue of a boater who was ejected from his motor boat into the St. Lawrence River on June 2, 2013.

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 recreation boating incident. Since its inception in 2008, it has been awarded six 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.

In conjunction with the award presentation, representatives from State Parks’ Marine Services Bureau will be on hand to discuss boating safety at the agency’s Boating Safety Rolling Display Trailer at Keewaydin State Park. The display will also be at Wellesley Island State Park on Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15. The display is open each day from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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.