Today, Eternal Reefs Inc. announced its partnership with the
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue to create the first Sea Turtle
Memorial Reef in the United States. Named after brave Sea Turtle,
“Dare,” who passed away March 10th, 2005, Eternal Reefs will combine
Dare's cremated remains with environmentally safe concrete to form
an artificial Memorial Reef Ball. Dare’s reef will be placed on the
ocean floor in a permitted location off the coast of North
Carolina.
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) April 21, 2005 -- Today, Eternal Reefs Inc.
announced its partnership with the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue
to create the first Sea Turtle Memorial Reef in the United States.
Named after brave Sea Turtle, “Dare,” who passed away March 10th,
2005, Eternal Reefs will combine Dare's cremated remains with
environmentally safe concrete to form an artificial Memorial Reef
Ball. Dare’s reef will be placed on the ocean floor in a permitted
location off the coast of North Carolina.
Headquartered in
Topsail Beach, North Carolina, The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue
and Rehabilitation Center is one of the few sea turtle treatment
facilities in the United States that accommodates injured
loggerhead, green, and Kemp's ridley turtles from up and down the
Eastern Seaboard. Most of the turtles have human-caused injuries
ranging from cuts from boat propellers, entanglement in fishing
gear, or poisoning from heavy metals, PCBs, or dioxins in their food
and their environment.
Dare was a female Kemp’s Ridley Sea
Turtle, the most highly endangered of all the sea turtle species.
Found in 1999 in Dare County, North Carolina, severely underweight
for her young age of 1 ½ years old, Dare suffered injuries from boat
strikes and ulcers. Just prior to impending release, Dare was
evacuated from Topsail Island during Hurricane Floyd and spent 4
days floating in her tank in contaminated flood waters. When
rescued, her tank was found 27 feet in the air in a tree. Dare was
re-examined by vets and found to have physical and neurological
problems, and there was some speculation that she may have suffered
a lightening strike during the hurricane. In an effort to improve
her attitude and depression, Dare was treated to a “Spa Day” once a
week by the rescue, in addition to continuing treatment of her
various medical issues. Following major surgery for a large
encapsulated mass, Dare slipped into a coma and passed away March
10th, 2005.
“Our volunteer staff has chosen to memorialize
Dare as a symbol of all the tens of thousands of sea turtles, and
other marine animals, who die each year, many of them as a result of
human irresponsibility, said Jean Beasley, Executive Director, Karen
Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue. “We hope that Dare’s reef ball, and the
reef that will carry her name, will be a reminder of the value and
beauty of our fellow species. We return Dare to her ocean home, to
be part of it forever.”
Since 2001, Eternal Reefs Inc. has
been providing permanent living legacies that memorialize the
passing of a loved one. For families and individuals that choose
cremation rather than burial, Eternal Reefs offers a new memorial
option that replaces cremation urns and ash scattering with a
permanent environmental living legacy.
“We’re proud to
partner with The Karen Beasley Turtle Rescue to remember Dare and
help save all endangered sea turtles, says Don Brawley, founder,
Eternal Reefs Inc. "Through Dare’s Reef, turtle rescue organizations
across the country as well as individuals can now provide a living
legacy for these magical creatures as well as a contribution to our
eco-system that will benefit future generations."
About
Eternal Reefs Inc.
Eternal Reefs, Inc is an Atlanta-based company
that provides creative environmentally enhancing means to
memorialize the cremated remains of a loved one. The company
incorporates cremated remains into a concrete mixture used to cast
artificial reef formations. The artificial reefs are dedicated as
permanent memorials while also bolstering natural coastal reef
formations. Expected to last 500 years, over 300 memorial reefs have
been placed off the coasts of Florida, South Carolina, Texas, New
Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. Contact Eternal Reefs
Inc. at: http://www.eternalreefs.com/.
About The
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation
Center
Headquartered in Topsail Beach, North Carolina, The Karen
Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is a 501c3
nonprofit sea turtle sanctuary, committed to the care and release of
sick and injured sea turtles. Originally founded by Karen Beasley as
the “Topsail Turtle Project,” Karen saw the need to preserve and
protect the sea turtle nests, nesting females, and hatchlings on the
26 miles of coastline on Topsail Island. After Karen's untimely
death, the torch was passed on to her mother, Jean Beasley, today
the Executive Director of both the nesting program and the
rehabilitation center. The dream of a rehabilitation center was
realized through the tireless efforts of the Beasley family, the
support of the project members and the generous donations of money,
time and material from local residents, businesses and visitors. For
more information about the Center visit http://www.seaturtlehospital.org/.
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