Walt Disney World installed a lighthouse monument in the memory of Lane Thomas Graves, a 2-year-old boy from Nebraska. Graves was playing in the sand building a sandcastle by the lagoons in the theme park resort in June 2016 when an alligator dragged him into the water.
Graves' father, Matt Graves, immediately jumped into the water to save his boy from the alligator. He tried to pry its mouth open to release Lane, but the reptile "thrashed and broke Matt's grasp and went under the water", according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report.
Graves family's fun summer getaway in Disney World was turned into grave tragedy. Graves is survived by his father, mother, and an older sister. The heartbreaking story brought many supporters and many expressed their condolences on social media. The family announced a month after the incident that they would not sue Disney.
Instead, the family found a non-profit organization, Lane Thomas Foundation, in honor of the boy in August 2016. On the one year anniversary of the foundation, Disney World installed a lighthouse monument to honor Lane Thomas Graves as the foundation's logo is a lighthouse.
According to the organization's Facebook page, "the Lane Thomas Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support for non-medical expenses to families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants at Omaha healthcare facilities.
Kwak, Min Jung = abiel@ajunews.com