A Distant Shore - Karen Kingsbury Page 0,106

Brenda

Mom, Thanks for always believing in me! I love you so much! My Mom & My Friend! Love Jennifer Zwickl

To Barbara Bankett, a beautiful Godly mother! Love, Tracy

Jess W.—A library + long walks/great talks + Karen Kingsbury’s amazing books = a friendship given by God.—Angela

JA—Greg, gone too soon!

To Rita—you were always her best birthday gift! —Lauren

Kylie + Caroline—Be Still & Know. Love You, Momma

Baukina Van Meekeren Miss your humour & hugs, Mom!

REAL-LIFE POLICE OFFICERS

Typically I use this section to recognize my top fans, the reader friends who follow me on social media and are first to open my newsletters each week. But this time I thought to highlight all the real-life Jack Ryder types, the ones who work long hours for little pay, sacrificing their lives to protect you and me.

I put out a call for readers to honor the police officers and first responders in their lives, and the outpouring was overwhelming. Not just in the number of readers who submitted the names of their family members and friends. But in what else they said in those heart-rending emails. “No one has wanted to honor my police officer wife in a very long time,” one man wrote. “I am writing this with tears in my eyes.” Many others wrote similar letters.

So… friends, take a minute and read this list.

I’d like to add to it several others. First, during the writing of this book, FBI agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were killed and three other agents were wounded in a raid on a Florida trafficker’s house. I’d like to honor them. I’d also like to recognize the six police officers who worked against a ticking massive bomb to save the lives of hundreds of residents in downtown Nashville on Christmas Day, 2020. And finally, I recognize these officers: my cousin Eddie; my husband’s cousins John and Charlie; Aaron, who has always been like a son to us; and our friends John and Charlie—all officers who devoted many, many years to serving their communities.

Friends, pray for the men and women honored here. Pray for the families of those whose watch ended far too soon. And the next time you see a police officer or first responder, buy them a coffee. Hand them a You Were Seen Card… or just thank them.

And may God bless and protect those who serve.

A.T. Lee—LEO—1 year

Aaron Bommersbach—LEO —5 years

Aaron Compton—LEO—20 years

Aaron Klauss, Dep.—LEO—4 years

Aaron Knoerzer—LEO

Abby Lewis—First Responder —3 months

Abigail Whitehill—First Responder —6 years

AC Harmon Martin Roberts—LEO —18 years

Adam Bickler—LEO—1 year

Adam Cash—LEO—9 years

Adam Farnsler—LEO—6 years

Adam Flanigan—First Responder —6 years

Adam Host, Sgt.—LEO

Adam Hounshell—First Responder—27 years

Adam Kardel, DS—LEO—7 years

Adam Yates—LEO—23 years

Adrian Kuschnereit—LEO—13 years

Adrianna Caraballo—LEO—1 year

Al Byrum—First Responder —38 years

Alan Blomquist—LEO—32 yesrs

Alane Larison—First Responder —35 years

Alex Farnsler—LEO—3 years

Alex Spears—LEO—2 years

Alexus Jones—LEO—15 years

Alfred Chambers—LEO —7 years

Allen Farley—LEO—37 years

Allen Hightower—First Responder—24 years

Allen Pearson, Det.—LEO, 8 years—End of Watch 4/8/09

Amaury Quinones—LEO —6 years

Amber Riedel—First Responder —14 years

Amos Johnson—First Responder —21 years

Andrea Warfel, Mstr. Cpl.—LEO —15 years

Andrew Cox—First Responder —6 years

Andrew Farnsler—LEO—5 years

Andrew Horton—LEO—15 years

Andrew J. Gillette, Cpl.—LEO, 10 years—End of Watch 2/25/20

Andrew Krnjeu—LEO—15 years

Andrew Lynn—LEO—2 years

Andrew M.—LEO—9.5 years

Andrew Morse—LEO, K9—20 years

Andrew Rollin Baughman—First Responder—12 years

Andrew Voight—Volunteer Firefighter—5 years

Andy Daigneau—First Responder—28 years

Andy Erlandson—LEO—19 years

Angel De Anda—LEO—1 year

Angela Neufeld—First Responder—16 years

Anita Winn—First Responder —25 years

Anthony Callicutt—LEO —10 years

Anthony Connell—First Responder, 24 years—LEO, 23 years

Anthony Minnis—LEO—43 years

Anthony Petito—First Responder —5 years

Anthony Pressnell—LEO —32 years

Anthony Rodriguez—LEO —18 years

Arlin Lee Jackson—First Responder—17 years

Ashley Googe—First Responder —9 years

Ashley N. Payne—First Responder

Ashlyn Mortell—First Responder —19 years

Austin Blomquist—LEO—4 years

Austin Coallier—LEO—3 years

Austin S. Diekevers—LEO—4 years

Bailey C. Martin, Jr.—First Responder—18 years

Barett Duren—LEO—8 years

Barry Bond—LEO—16 years

Becky Sargeant—LEO—25 years

Ben C.—LEO—5 years

Ben Farrell—LEO—4 years

Ben Neitzel—LEO—32 years

Ben Perkins—LEO—26 years

Benjamin Hinson—First Responder—18 years

Benjamin Johnson—LEO—6 years

Benjamin McRary—LEO—1 year

Benjamin Spurgeon—LEO —8.5 years

Benjamin Weaver—LEO—5 years

Benjamin West—LEO—11 years

Bill Brown—LEO—25 years

Bill Elfo, Sheriff—LEO—20+ years

Bill Hammack—LEO—34 years

Bill Hoedebeck—LEO—28 years

Bill Walker—LEO—20 years

Billy Banta—First Responder —10 years

Billy Winn—First Responder —24 years

Blaine Thomason—First Responder—19 years

Blake Davis—LEO—1 year

Blake Escobar—LEO—2 years

Blake Gammill—LEO, 7 years—End of Watch 2/24/05

Blake Riley—LEO—3 years

Bobby Hallman, ASD—LEO

Bobby Long—LEO—8 years

Bobby Moree—LEO—24 years

Brad Counce—LEO—24 years

Brad Gailey, DS—LEO—12 years

Brad Hart—First Responder —25 years

Brandon Boykin—First Responder —8 years

Brandon Deas—LEO

Brandon Flamm—LEO—9 years

Brandon Gray—First Responder —16 years

Brandon Gueiss—LEO

Brandon Kuschnereit—LEO —9 years

Brandon Thomasy, Cpl.—LEO —5 years

Brandon Watson—LEO—1 year

Brant Halfin—LEO—3 years

Brendan Byrum—First Responder —1 year

Brendan Warren—First Responder —5 years

Brennan Gandy—LEO—5 years

Brent Ball—LEO, K9—6 years

Brent D. Smith, Cpl.—LEO —16 years

Brent McConnell—First Responder—14 years

Brent Moening, Lt.—LEO—13 years

Brent Phelps, Chf.—LEO—24 years

Brett Cockrum—First Responder —3 years

Brett Ver Velde—LEO—27 years

Brett Watkins—LEO—4 years

Brian Barnett—LEO, Volunteer Fire Fighter—14.5 years

Brian Barrick—LEO—16 years

Brian C. Young—LEO, 29 years—First Responder, 30 years

Brian D. O’Callaghan—LEO —33 years

Brian David Shaw—LEO, 3 years—End of Watch 11-17-17

Brian Ferguson—LEO—15 years

Brian Goodson—LEO—17 years

Brian Haddix—LEO—14 years

Brian Larison—LEO—17 years

Brian Milton—First Responder