A.J.

On June 16th a few years back, Corolla Ocean Rescue lost a comrade, a friend, and a brother. It is a day of remembrance for those who loved him, a day where they can reflect on the memories they shared with A.J. Through COR, and a day where they can mourn his passing but celebrate his spirit. A.J. died doing what he loved; he was flying his plane past section D stand, gave a dip of the wing to his friends, and then flew out of sight. And that's the last they saw him before his plane went down.

Today, we had a memorial paddle out a little after sunrise. About 15 COR staff came out, some knowing A.J. Personally, some only hearing his story. We paddled out towards the horizon and once we went out far enough, we joined hands in a circle underneath the suns rays and had a few moments of silence and reflection. I felt very special and honored to be a part of such a spiritual and touching experience. I am sure A.J. Was looking down on us from Heaven.

I did not know A.J., but his memories linger everywhere in Corolla. His shoe sits on a shrine in the guard house, his surfboard hangs in the Ocean rescue bay, "in memory of A.J." stickers are on all of the COR vehicles, and his closest friends sport a shark tattoo on their shoulder in his memory. So although he has passed and many of us who work here did not know him personally, his spirit lives on through those who love COR the way A.J. did.