• Mount Rainier peeks through clouds, viewed across subalpine wildflowers and glacial moraine.

    Mount Rainier

    National Park Washington

In Memory - Park Ranger Margaret Anderson

Park Ranger Margaret Anderson in her formal uniform in front of the American flag.

Park Ranger Margaret Anderson
February 2, 1977 - January 1, 2012

Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson was fatally shot in the line of duty on January 1, 2012. On the morning of January 1, Ranger Margaret Anderson set up a traffic block to intercept a vehicle that failed to stop at a chain-up checkpoint in the park. The driver of the vehicle opened fire on Ranger Anderson, killing her, then fled on foot into the woods. Margaret, age 34, worked at Mount Rainier for 3 years. She is survived by her husband Eric, also a Mount Rainier Park Ranger, and two young children.

A formal law enforcement memorial service honoring Ranger Anderson was held on January 10, 2012 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. The service was widely attended by National Park Service employees and members of the law enforcement community from all over the United States and Canada, dignitaries, as well as the general public.

On February 7th, 2012, the Washington State Senate passed Resolution 8676, honoring Ranger Margaret Anderson for her service. View a video of the Washington State Senate convening for regular floor session on SR 8676 (Honoring Margaret Anderson) in Olympia, WA.
 

Support
A donation account to benefit the children of Margaret and Eric Anderson has been set up at the Eatonville, Washington KeyBank Branch, P.O. Box 159, Eatonville, WA 98328. Checks should be made out to the Margaret Anderson Donation Account. The National Park Foundation has also established a memorial fund to benefit the children of Margaret and Eric Anderson. Visit www.nationalparks.org/MargaretAnderson to help.

 

Upcoming Events
Last updated: April 30, 2013

1) Washington State Medal of Honor Ceremony - Fri. May 3, 2013, 1:00 pm, State Capitol, Olympia, WA

http://www.atg.wa.gov/MedalOfHonor/AwardCeremony.aspx#.UYAym8qy-Vo2

2) Pierce County Sheriff's Dept. Memorial Service - Wed. May 8, 2013, 6:00 pm, Clover Park Technical College, Tacoma, WA

3) Police Week, National Law Enforcement Memorial - May 12-16, 2013, Washington DC
Numerous events at the Nation's Capitol, including the National LE Memorial Service, US Capitol, Wed. May 15, 1:00 pm
http://www.policeweek.org/

Did You Know?

Visitor exploring the former Paradise Ice Caves.

For many years, the Paradise Ice Caves were a popular attraction at Mount Rainier. Until the 1980s, visitors could explore passages within the Paradise Glacier which had formed due to seasonal melting of the ice. By the early 1990s, climate change had melted away the last traces of the caves. More...