KAYSVILLE — When 6-year-old Alyvia Hall saw her 4-year-old sister Alyssa run and leap into the deep end of a swimming pool, she took action.
Alyssa was struggling for her breath when Alyvia jumped into the pool and pushed her to safety.
On Nov. 8, Alyvia was surprised when Mayor Steve Hiatt, Kaysville Police Lt. Kenton Pies and the school principal Mike Volmar went to her first-grade classroom at Sam Morgan Elementary School to honor her for saving her younger sister’s life.
“(Alyssa’s) big sister was taking care of her,” said the girls’ grandpa Dale Crockett of Farmington.
He and the girls’ grandma Roleane Crockett attended the short ceremony, where Alyvia received a golden key to the city and a bright floral arrangement.
In October the Daniel and Marie Hall family was on vacation in California when they were out near a gated pool. Alyvia’s mother Marie was holding the couple’s youngest child, Brayden, in her arms when Alyssa dashed toward the pool, not realizing she was headed into deep water.
Marie saw Alyssa jump into the water and turned to find someone to watch 2-year-old Brayden so he wouldn’t do the same thing. When she turned back, Alyvia, already on the opposite side of the pool, jumped in and saved her little sister.
Applause broke out in the classroom after Marie told the story of the frightening incident.
Hiatt read a letter of commendation to Alyvia for her heroic actions.
“You are a wonderful example to others,” Hiatt read. “You put the safety of others before yourself.”
He called her “an example,” a “hero,” and a “beacon” to others.
“You are one of Kaysville’s finest citizens,” Hiatt said.
Alyvia quietly grinned as the mayor handed her the letter and also presented her a gold key to the city. Pies held out a vase of flowers provided by Bob Waite, owner of Designer Associates Floral of Kaysville.
Hiatt said golden keys to the city are only given to special people who do special things.
Then Pies gave Alyvia the bouquet of flowers. Not only did the first-grade class and their teacher Michelle Jacobsen get to witness the event but Alyvia’s parents Marie and Daniel Hall and her siblings Alyssa, brothers Daniel and Brayden and her grandparents were there to congratulate her.
Alyvia sent the flowers home with her mom but kept the key at school to show to her classmates.
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