The Story Behind the Logo

Jeff & Andrew

One Piece of the Puzzle

Behind almost everything in this ride is a story. This may be, in my opinion, one of the most significant in regards to Andrew and his father Jeff.

Jeff had shared with us, before he passed, that Andrew had a project in high school one year. His teacher had given him a puzzle piece, explaining that every person that comes into your life is a piece of your puzzle. At the end of your life, a full picture emerges from all the pieces that you've gathered over your time here. Andrew got home, and gave Jeff his puzzle piece. Jeff said that Andrew told him "You're a piece of my puzzle."

From that day on, Jeff carried that puzzle piece in his wallet. When his son enlisted, Jeff had that piece. When the news came that Andrew had been killed, Jeff held that piece. When his granddaughter was born, Jeff carried that piece. As anniversary after anniversary of Andrew's death came and went, fishing trip after fishing trip, year after year. When he helped another grieving Gold Star Family, Andrew was in his back pocket. When he honored our fallen with Wreaths Across America, Andrew was with him. And when Jeff left us to be with Andrew, he no longer needed the puzzle piece.

Jeff and Drew left us an example. Life's too short. Make friends, build your puzzle one piece at a time so that when it's our time to go, we will have made a difference to someone else.

Our patch for this ride is a puzzle piece. It states "Pride is no sin, Always have pride!" as written on Drew's headstone. This patch was chosen by Jeff, so in honoring his wish we thought it would be best to tell the story as it was shared with us.