January 1st, New Year's Day is supposed to be full of joy and celebration for the new year and spent with family and/or friends. This January 1st, 2012, Ranger Margaret Anderson of Mount Ranier National Park apprehended a suspect who had not stopped at a chain-up inspection stop. This stop was her last. Anderson was shot and killed by the suspect. Word spread quickly of the murder of Ranger Anderson throughout the National Park Service within hours of the shooting.
Those of you who know me, know that I say often that when you join the NPS, you become part of a big family. You may not know those that work in other park units or even all of those in uniform in your own park, but they are still a part of you, a part of the mission of the park. You know what these rangers go through day in and day out, including the struggles and joys of the job. We don't do our job for the money but for the joy we get out of working with people and fulfilling the mission of the park and the NPS at large.
Although I did not know Margaret, I share an office with my park's law enforcement and this is a great loss to our NPS family. Thinking of Mt. Ranier's loss makes me appreciate the time that we have been given on this Earth, to treasure friends and family and never ever take anything for granted. We will all continue to do our jobs knowing that there are risks associated with each and every job in the NPS, some much more than others. I will continue to follow my passion and work to honor the lives of all our fallen rangers.
May Ranger Margaret Anderson rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with Margaret's family (her husband Eric and two young kids), her NPS family and all her friends.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/01/1965682/ranger-shot-at-mount-rainier.html
