Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal".
Our thoughts and prayers are with Eric and his family as they deal with Margaret's death. She lives on every day in the smiles of her girls, and in the heart of thousands.

Jodi and Rob Shepard
Eatonville

January 3, 2012

May God bless you Margaret for serving your country by protecting our natural and cultural resources. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your husband and two children.

Tim Mauch, Chief Ranger, RICH
National Park Service

January 3, 2012

We offer our condolences and support for the family, co-workers, and friends of Ranger Anderson. May she rest in peace.

Washington State Chapter
Concerns of Police Survivors

January 3, 2012

My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Rest in peace Ranger Anderson.

Sgt.Jim Fletcher
Dept. of Corrections

January 3, 2012

I worked with Margaret and Eric at Bryce Canyon in performing SAR, Structure Fire, Technical rescue and EMS activities. Margaret stands out in my mind as a soft spoken highly capable and very competent Ranger. She always strived to do her best and to keep improving her skills and capabilities in performing her job as a Park Ranger. I am lucky to have had the chance to know and work with her. My thoughts and prayers are with Eric and Margarets family as is the many people she worked with at Bryce and with Garfield county emergency services.

Moyle Johnson
Bryce Canyon National Park

January 3, 2012

It is so very grievious that the forces of evil are all about us without regard to life of anyone. Without courageous law enforcement officers, think of where the citizens would be! Her children must know that their mother was one of a kind who stood up for the good of all and protection of all and giving the ultimate gift--her life. My heart goes out to all of her loved ones.

Park Ranger, Diane Mallickan
Nez Perce National Historical Park

January 3, 2012

God bless Ranger Anderson's family. Without a doubt, she now dances with the Angels in Heaven. Having grown up in a family of Law Enforcement myself, I feel pain over this senseless act. Please know, your family is not alone in grief, as we in the Community, are grieving also, and praying for your comfort in the days ahead.

Lisa Peluso Woomer
Fellow American, Kapowsin resident.

January 3, 2012

My Prayers to the Family and Law Enforcement Family Of Ranger Anderson

Rangers Of
Standing Rock Game, Fish & Wildlife

January 3, 2012

A True Tragedy. G-d Bless Margaret and all she stood for.

Mark Strauss, U.S. Citizen
Ventura County, CA

January 3, 2012

My heart and my prayers go out to Margaret's family and friends. I think a great many people entertained the idea of working closer to nature and PR Margaret Anderson embodied that dream. This tragic event hurts everyone deeply. May her girls know how cherished their mothers love of nature and of helping people is regarded by the world.

Chris Gehrig
Kindred, ND

None
None

January 3, 2012

Margaret's loss echoes throughout parks and visitor centers - everywhere visitors interact with those serving them. Deepest condolences are sent.

Cathy Bonser, Executive Director
Redwood Parks Association

January 3, 2012

Thank you for your dedicatd service, it is heart breaking to have another law enformcement officer killed. Pierce county has taken it really hard this past few years. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Lieutenant/Paramedic M Black
Graham Fire and Rescue

January 3, 2012

My sympathy to the Anderson family

Mavis Bensch
Citizen

January 3, 2012

Margaret and those closest to her, thank you for your service, your kind care of we fellow citizens, visitors, humans. We're so grateful for what you did for us, and so sorry to lose you.

A friend, a brother.

January 3, 2012

While I did not know Ranger Anderson her loss burns deep into all of us who serve as Park Rangers and in Law Enforcement. Park Rangers are often not thought of as "real" Law Enforcement Officers by the public which could not be further from the truth. Ranger Anderson gave her life to protect not only a park she loved but to protect others. Her sacrifice will not be forgotten. Keep her and her family in your thoughts.

C. Horrigan, US Park Ranger
National Park Service

January 3, 2012

I remember Margaret quite well. I have very fond memories of getting to know her and sharing our dreams for our futures. We attended KSU together in the Park Resource Management program and were in the Wildlife club together as well. We also lived on the same floor in Moore Hall(9th floor!). We got to know each other well. I learned she was a musician too and got to meet her parents at least once. Wonderful family, just really wonderful people.

Margaret was such a beautiful person inside and out. She had a tremendous heart and she was generous with it. She had this beautiful quiet strength about her. She presented as a delicate person but she had this tremendous inner strength. I will never forget it. Not ever.

I remember the wildlife rehab of baby squirrels and our wonderment at their claws and feeding them peeled grapes. I remember her coming by my dorm room when she heard me playing my violin (rather scratchily) and we started talking about our experiences playing music and how she was going to have her parents bring her instrument (saxophone?) down when they came to visit. We would have conversations about what working out in nature meant to us and dreaming of working in a beautiful national park.

I remember a time in particular, working at Hale Library at the front desk, she had come to see me. She had just learned one of our wildlife club members had fallen off a roof and died while trying to relocate a peregrine falcon's nest, or some bird of prey. He had died alone.

She was visibly very shaken and upset. I was very struck by her depth of compassion. I had not known the member as well as she had but even still, it was obvious she cared very deeply. The sharing of grief is a very personal thing. I can still recall how her tears welled in her eyes as she so freely shared her anguish with me. I felt moved and honored that she would seek me out to share in her grief.

I remember comforting her in the best way I knew how by giving her a hug and finding the only words I could muster at the moment. I had told her that he had died doing what he loved, doing something he truly believed in and loved and that is what we should carry with us.

I can not share enough how profound this memory is for me now. I always remember that moment so vividly. Now, Margaret's passing in the line of duty, doing what she had always dreamed of doing, makes it so much more. I have often thought about that day and how I was not sure if I had said the right things or if I had done enough to comfort her in her grief.

We did not see each other as often that year. It has been well over a decade now, our paths diverged, but I have thought of her often over the years. Margaret left an indelible mark on my soul with the quiet strength and beauty she radiated.

It does my heart good to know that she got to experience her dreams. I mourn for all of her family and friends. I love that she was able to start a family and be a mom and I mourn that her girls will not get to know their mama. I mourn for her husband, that he has lost someone so special and beautiful.

May you all find peace and comfort in that you will find her, always, in the beauty and splendor of nature.

Rosanna J. Hernandez
College Friend

January 3, 2012

Your family's sacrifice shall be remembered and I am temendously grateful for Margaret's service for the public good. She set a heroic example for all to appreciate. Your family's loss is immeasurable. I grieve with you.

denise flori
Grateful American

January 3, 2012

Rest in Peace...we will keep watch on your family from here.

Sgt. Debra Van Fleet (Ret)
Morris County Prosecutor/NPS

January 3, 2012

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. This
is a tragic loss of another person serving and protecting our country. She will be missed

kenneth gangl
Fellow American

January 3, 2012

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Margaret Anderson, a courageous and dedicated Park Ranger. The world will be a sadder place without her.

Janette and Carol
Park Visitors

January 3, 2012

My deepest sympathy goes to the family. May Margaret rest in peace.

Citizen
None

January 3, 2012

Officer Anderson, You and Your Family, Friends and Co-Workers are in our Thoughts and Prayers.

Rebecca Rounds, MSgt, USAF Retired
86 APS, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Tacoma, WA

January 3, 2012

While I don't personally know either one of you, a tragedy suffered by one is suffered by all in this life. I feel your pain, sense your grief, and send you a wish that your heart doesn't harden as a result. In life there can be such sadness, but at the same time, there are glimmers of hope and beauty all around, always. Take care of yourself & your little ones. Love them with all the kindness and caring you can muster at a time like this & heal them as well as yourself. My deepest condolences to you...

Bio-tech Melanie
SEKI NPS

January 3, 2012

Our thoughts are with you and your family. We appreciate all that you did to help protect and serve the parks and the people. You made the world a better place.

The Staff at Florissant Fossil Beds N.M.
National Park Service

January 3, 2012

This is such a great loss! May your family and friends find peace in their time of loss and grief. Ranger Anderson, you will not be forgotten. Thank you for your service and dedication. God be with you my sister.

Ptl. Donna Shawver - retired/disabled
SPD

January 3, 2012