There are countless ways to preserve a legacy. Some, like the names engraved on the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial, are etched in marble. Some, precious to surviving families, are shared around dinner tables. Others live on in stories told to children and grandchildren who never had the chance to know the person themselves.
And sometimes, a legacy races across the water at more than 150 miles per hour, giving surviving families something they never expected: a moment when it feels as though their loved one has come back to life, if only for the length of a race.
For the past two years, Behind the Badge Foundation and H1 Unlimited have partnered to create one of the most unique tributes imaginable, placing the names of Washington State law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty on every Unlimited Hydroplane racing during Washington’s H1 race weekends.
At first glance, it may seem like a simple gesture.
A decal.
A name.
A tribute.
But what H1 Unlimited, its race teams, drivers, and volunteers have created is anything but simple.
They have given families something incredibly rare.
They have given their loved ones motion again.
Like many meaningful traditions, this one began with a simple invitation.
Long before there was an official partnership with Behind the Badge Foundation, Steve Lamsen, Jimmy Delissio, Darrell and Vanessa Strong, and many others within the H1 community had already established a tradition of welcoming surviving family members, active law enforcement officers, military personnel, and first responders to Seafair as honored guests. Families were invited into hospitality spaces, introduced to race teams, and treated not as spectators, but as part of the H1 family.
No one asked them to do it.
They simply led with their hearts.
Year after year, they demonstrated what gratitude looks like in action.
Then, two years ago, H1 Unlimited approached Behind the Badge Foundation with a simple idea.
“What if we honored the fallen officers themselves?”
That conversation became the beginning of what is now known as Legacy on the Water.
Together, we began identifying Washington State officers whose names would be carried on every Unlimited hydroplane competing during Washington State race weekends. Surviving family members were invited behind the scenes into the pits, where they could meet drivers, crew members, and owners, learn about the boats, and see their loved one’s name displayed before thousands of spectators watched it race across the water.
We hoped families would enjoy the experience.
What we didn’t anticipate was just how deeply it would touch them.
One of those family members was Colton Terry.
Colton was still shy of two years old when his father, Deputy Antonio Terry, was killed in the line of duty in 1994. He grew up knowing his dad only through stories and the memories shared by others.
When asked what it felt like to watch his father’s name race across the water, Colton answered simply:
“Extremely proud.”
Then he grew quiet.
For a young man who doesn’t remember the sound of his father’s voice, watching his dad’s name flying across the water felt like something more than remembrance.
It felt a little like presence.
For Corey Christensen, the loss of his father, Correctional Officer David Christensen, is still fresh, even though five years had passed.
His dad was known for his sense of humor and his ability to make people laugh wherever he went. The kind of person who probably would’ve found his way into the pits even if someone had told him he wasn’t allowed.
When Corey first learned about the tribute, he admitted he was surprised.
After watching the Spirit of America carry his father’s name, he shared,
“It’s really emotional…to see that people support him…know his name.”
That’s what Legacy on the Water does.
It reminds families that their loved one is still known.
Still remembered.
Still honored.
I also couldn’t help but laugh during our interview. Corey was doing his very best to answer my questions, but every time a boat fired up or came blasting down the straightaway during qualifying, his attention disappeared with it.
By the end of the day, another H1 fan had been born.
Then there was the Cortez family.
Officer Charlie Cortez died in the line of duty in the waters of Puget Sound in 2020.
For his family, water carries a different meaning. It is more than recreation or competition. It is sacred.
Charlie’s father, Alan, wasn’t sure he wanted to come.
Grief has its own timeline, and there are days when showing up feels harder than staying home.
But something changed.
Standing beside the boat bearing Charlie’s name, Alan shared stories of his son with legendary driver Dave Villwock and members of the race team. What began as a conversation became something much more meaningful.
A connection.
Not simply to Dave.
Not simply to the team.
But to an entire community that had chosen to remember Charlie alongside them.
They didn’t just welcome the Cortez family into the pits.
They welcomed them into their family.
These stories aren’t about decals.
They aren’t about race boats.
And they aren’t even about summer weekends.
They’re about legacy.
For surviving families, one of the greatest fears after a line-of-duty death is that, over time, the world will simply move on.
The headlines disappear.
The uniforms change.
People retire.
Years pass.
Programs like this quietly push back against that fear.
They remind families that someone who never had the privilege of meeting their officer still cares enough to carry their name.
That their service still matters.
That their sacrifice continues to be recognized.
For a few exhilarating moments, it feels as though their hero is alive again.
Not because anyone has forgotten the loss.
But because so many people have chosen to remember.
One of the most unexpected outcomes of this partnership is what happens after race weekend ends.
Families become H1 fans.
They follow “their” drivers on social media.
They learn the boats.
They cheer for race teams.
They compare results.
They stay connected with one another through a sport they may never have experienced otherwise.
It’s not unusual to hear a survivor proudly talk about “our boat” or “our driver.”
Some friendly rivalries have even begun to develop among families.
We’re not saying there’s any trash talk…
…but we’re also not saying there isn’t.
This summer, Legacy on the Water continues to grow.
Washington State’s fallen officers will be honored during both H1 race weekends:
Tri-Cities Water Follies
July 24 – 26
Seattle Seafair
July 31 – August 2
By expanding the program, even more surviving families will have the opportunity to experience the incredible generosity and hospitality that has defined this partnership from the very beginning.
We are profoundly grateful to H1 Unlimited, Steve Lamsen, Jimmy Delissio, Darrell and Vanessa Strong, the race teams, drivers, owners, crew members, volunteers, and every person who has embraced this partnership with genuine compassion.
You have honored these officers not as a slogan, but through your actions.
You have welcomed families not as guests, but as friends.
You have shown that remembrance can happen in unexpected places.
If you’ve never attended an H1 Unlimited race, this is the perfect year to experience one of the Pacific Northwest’s great summer traditions.
Come for the speed.
Come for the history.
Come for the excitement.
And while you’re there, take a moment to look beyond the spray, the horsepower, and the competition.
Look for the names.
Each one represents a life of service.
A family forever changed.
A legacy that continues to live on.
Because thanks to H1 Unlimited and the remarkable people behind this partnership, those names still have a place to fly.
