A year ago, my family had the wonderful opportunity of going to San Diego and meeting up with a group of amazing young men from Foundation Skateboards who worked to create a skateboard in tribute of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots.
It was an honor for so many reasons. We were able to visit with friends whom Andrew used to skate with in Prescott growing up. Ryan, Levi, and Tyler were three of these guys and I considered it a joy to be around them and reminisce about the times they shared with Andrew enjoying one of their favorite pastimes.
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| Crew (nephew), Juliann, Tate, Levi, and Jill (sister) |
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| Ryan and Tate |
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| Ryan and Shiloh |
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| Levi, Ryder, Juliann, Tate, Tom (Andrew's Dad) and Jonathan (brother) |
It was a chance to become more familiar with an awesome company, Foundation Skateboards, who went above and beyond to help the families of the fallen 19. They created a skateboard deck, remembering our men and paying tribute to their lives lost far too soon. They sold 200 of these boards and donated the proceeds to the Prescott Firefighter Charities. We were delighted to receive skateboards of our own and I assure you...they are used each and every day by one or more of us.
Last but not least...The Berrics. Andrew was a huge fan and supporter of Steve Berra and Rob Dyrdek. He had posters on his wall as a teenager of Steve Berra and weekly he had a designated time to sit down with me in our living room and watch Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory. This meeting in San Diego was not only a chance to meet up with members of Foundation Skateboards, but we were invited to skate in Steve and Rob's skatepark...the Berrics This once in a lifetime opportunity is a treasured memory for the kids and I. During the entire afternoon, I envisioned Andrew gliding across the ramps and rails on his skateboard as skating for him was always a release, a passion, a way for him to clear his head when the stresses of life became heavy. He would skate to remember who he was in his heart.
It was a beautiful honor when the Berrics website even created a tribute of their own remembering Andrew. Take a peek...
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| Ryder Shiloh, Choice, Juliann, and Tate |
As our trip this year routed us back through San Diego, we made a stop into Foundation Skateboards to recognize them and express our appreciation for the incredible generosity and hospitality they showed our family. We were excited to see Tyler again and spent some time talking about Andrew and our memories of his skateboarding days. We gave Tyler a Spread The Better shirt and some Be Better Bands so he could further share his example of compassion and service to others.
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| Tyler and Juliann |
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| Morghen, Shiloh, Tyler, Ryder, Tate, Juliann, and Choice |
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| Shiloh, Tyler, Ryder, Tate, Choice, and Juliann |
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| Morghen, Shiloh, Tyler, Ryder, Tate, Juliann, and Choice |
Tyler made our day by giving us a tour through their office/warehouse. It was a skateboarders paradise in there and I could see stars in Ryder's eyes as we walked through the aisles of merchandise.
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| Ryder, Juliann, and Choice |
The enchantment for the kids continued as Tyler showed us the back of the warehouse...home to their very own skateboard ramp. More quickly than I could even get the words out asking them not to, the kids had their shoes kicked off and they are in full play mode.
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| Ryder, Shiloh, Choice, and Tate |
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| Shiloh, Ryder, Choice, and Tate |
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| Ryder, Shiloh, Choice, and Tate |
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| Tate, Choice, Shiloh, and Ryder |
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| Ryder |
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| Tate |
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| Shiloh |
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| Choice |
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| Shiloh and Juliann |
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| Choice, Ryder, Shiloh, and Tate |
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| Ryder and Shiloh |
One of the employees of Foundation Skateboards took a break from working in the warehouse and gave us a skating demo on the ramp. The kids were in awe of his talent.
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| Tate and Foundation Skateboards Employee |
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| Choice and Tate observing Foundation Skateboarder |
We took one last slide down the ramp together as a family before it was time to say our goodbyes.
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| Tate, Shiloh, Juliann, Choice, and Ryder |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Juliann, Choice, and Ryder |
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| Tate, Shiloh, Juliann, Choice, and Ryder |
Tyler gave us each a new pair of socks on behalf of Foundation Skateboards, as well as some stickers to decorate our bus. The kids haven't wanted to take the socks off their feet!
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| Choice, Tate, Juliann, Shiloh, and Ryder |
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| Tyler, Ryder, Shiloh, Tate, Choice, and Juliann |
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| Tyler, Ryder, Shiloh, Tate, Choice, and Juliann |
Many thanks to Foundation Skateboards, The Berrics, Tyler, Ryan, Levi, and all others who had a hand in this amazing project! These boards have played such a special role in our healing process.
Just as skateboarding did for Andrew, we all should find something that brings us childlike pleasure and peace. A hobby that gives us an element of enjoyment and fun in life that is necessary to our sanity and overall happiness.
Keep Spreading the Better!
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