It is with a heavy heart that I have to write this. J.F. Posthumus, one of our best writers and a very dear friend, lost her eldest child over the weekend. Mark Christopher Wagner was a member of the Wintergreen Police Department and died protecting his community from a violent suspect. I only spoke with him briefly as J.F. and her husband and I returned from a road trip to Imaginarium, and even in his sleep-deprived state (He worked the night shift) he was cordial and funny. I could definitely see his dad in him, and I was looking forward to future encounters.

As a father of a toddler, I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of pain they’re going through. Nothing we say or do will ever fully fill that void, but prayers and considerations are still welcome. If any of you are in a position to do more than that, there is a fundraiser at FundTheFirst.com to help the family in this trying time. As the Wintergreen Police Department is a private police force, the family is not eligible for state employee death benefits. Any amount, no matter how small, will go a long way to helping them weather the storm, at least from a financial standpoint. Even if you can’t contribute, please consider sharing it far and wide. The outpouring of support at this point (Over $41,000 in only 24 hours) has been amazing to see. Here’s the direct link: https://fundthefirst.com/campaign/fallen-officer-mark-christopher-chris-wagner-ii-wintergreen-police-department-va-h3a90i

Another way you can support the family is to purchase J.F. Posthumus’s books. Please check her Amazon page and see if anything fits your interests or the interests of a loved one. Above all, please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers throughout this time.

Thank you, and may God bless families such as these. Without good people ready to stand in the gap, our society would surely crumble.