On this Father’s Day, 2025, I mourn for the family of Melissa and Mark Hortman, who were murdered by a domestic terrorist in my adopted home state of Minnesota yesterday.
They have two children who are now without parents, one whose wedding was being planned.
May their memories always be a blessing.
And I pray for the recovery of John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were also shot by the same terrorist. The Hoffman’s have been passionate advocates for folks with disabilities, fighting for folks like their daughter.
Accounts indicate that Yvette threw her body over her daughter as the bullets came flying into their home.
A heroic act to thwart the intentions of a man who apparently was motivated to kill Melissa and John because he disagreed with their politics.
Despicable.
I am grateful for my family and the pleasure and privilege it is to be husband to Nancy and dad to Jillian and Jacob, and on this day in particular I will not take that for granted.
I will hold them close, and I will continue to speak out against the senseless violence that has taken grip.
Mark Hirschfeld 
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