Honored, At Last

A HURRICANE blew the vessel E. S. Newman aground off Pea Island, N.C. In raging surf, seven members of the US Life Saving Service lashed themselves together and rescued all nine people aboard.

The year was 1896. The surfmen, the only all-black crew in the service, got no recognition for this daring rescue or many others. That injustice was rectified last week when their supporters and descendants gathered in Washington for the presentation of the Coast Guard's Gold Lifesaving Medal.

We join in belatedly saluting the valor of the men of Pea Island Station.