Jason Modisette, Skyliar’s father, pins a medal on Skyliar’s Scout uniform. The medal acknowledges the heroic act by the young Scout. Skyliar’s mother, Toni, stands beside them. Photo by Susan Kyle.

By Susan Kyle

WESTLAKE, La. ––It was at a July 3, 2010 swimming party that Donna Modisette saw Parker, her pre-school-age nephew, lying on the bottom of the pool in deep water.

She managed to pull the youngster from the bottom, but she was too weak to keep him above water.

Her cries of help weren’t immediately heard above the noise of a party.

But Skyliar Modesette, Parker’s older brother, heard the screams. He swam to Donna, who was doing her best to hold unconscious Parker.

Swimming up to the pair, Skyliar grabbed his brother firmly and pulled him out of the water.

Once on the side of the pool, the unconscious child began coughing and spitting out water. He regained consciousness and is fine today.

“I will never lose the image of Skyliar descending on us like an angel from heaven and grabbing Parker,” said Donna.

Scoutmaster Kenneth Eastman, leader of Westlake Boy Scout Troop 88, along with Skyliar’s friends and family, held a ceremony on Feb. 13 honoring Skyliar at Westlake United Methodist Church, sponsor of the troop.

A crowd gave Skyliar a standing ovation while his father pinned the Lifesaving Heroism Award on his son’s uniform. The Boy Scout medal and certificate was presented by Scoutmaster Eastman.

“Skyliar is such a humble guy,” said Julie Faulk, Skyliar’s high school algebra teacher. “I would have never known that he had performed such a heroic act if I had not gotten the email inviting me to this ceremony.”

Skyliar did not know about the ceremony.

“I’m very surprised. I thank everyone who had something to do with this,” said Skyliar after the ceremony.

Kyle is a reporter for the Southwest Daily News. This article is edited and published with the permission of that publication.