Losing your father is never easy. But it's even harder to have never had a father's presence in your life. Julianna Kinnard was very young when she lost her father, a detention officer named Joshua Kinnard, after he was killed by police. Joshua was only 37 at the time.
Joshua's death was tragic. At the time, he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It's a fact his former fiancée wants to spread further. PTSD is very serious and often gets brushed off when discussing mental health.
Since her dad is no longer around, Julianna will have to go through all of her milestones without him there. But the deputies who knew him promised his partner, Maggie, that they'd help fill in to make sure Julianna always felt supported.
"When Josh passed away, a lot of the officers were like, 'We will be there for her milestones,' and this is one of the biggest ones for her, is the start of her education," Maggie said to Fox35. They vowed to be there to make her first day of kindergarten extra special. Each person who showed up gave her a flower and wished her a good day at her new school.
Starting school is a huge milestone for any kid. And as Julianna's mom pointed out, many of her classmates would likely have their fathers by their sides to send them off. In lieu of his presence, plenty of friends stepped forward. Prior to his death, Joshua served as a Marine, and Joshua's PTSD played a huge part in his death. In 2018, Joshua had the police called on him because he was acting erratically. Officers Troy Vernon and Christoph Putton were called to the scene. While outside and trying to help Joshua, he reportedly grabbed a rifle from his truck.
He made the grave mistake of threatening the police with the rifle, which caused the officers to shoot back. Prior to, they had tried to talk to him for nearly a half hour. At the time, Joshua was on leave from work due to his health. It was something that was difficult for his family to navigate. As pictures show, he had a wonderful relationship with his little girl. Luckily, Julianna has plenty of memories to look back on, and always will.
After the shooting, Maggie told officers that Joshua had been undergoing treatment at the VA for PTSD as well as a traumatic brain injury, both of which likely led to his uncharacteristic outburst. The officers weren't charged with his death, but Joshua's family did try to press charges against the VA. They felt as if the death could have been prevented with better treatment, especially since many veterans suffer similarly.
Being part of a military family is often hard enough, especially families that have to move quite often. It seems like Josh was just in the process of starting his family when things took a dark turn. Josh had served as a Marine from 1999 to 2003. While serving in the Iraq War, he was on the front lines. Milestones like attending his daughter's first day of kindergarten were likely on his mind as being things he couldn't wait to see, which is why it's extra sweet that people made a point to show up and make the big day even more special for Julianna.
Julianna isn't the first child to lose a parent this way. But hopefully, other children who are without a family member due to unresolved issues with mental stress will have the same support from their communities. It seems like these deputies and veterans have made an oath to support Julianna throughout the rest of her life.
According to Law Enforcement Today, he didn't return home with a sound mind. One of the ways his family has chosen to honor his life is to bring more awareness to PTSD. They started the Joshua Kinnard Foundation.
"Joshua Kinnard Foundation was created to bring awareness to PTSD & the much needed help and resources we need to be providing to our Law enforcement, Fire/Ems & Veterans who are suffering," they state. "We want to help end the Stigma on getting help when needed." That foundation is also how many of Joshua's friends knew about the opportunity to escort Julianna to her first day of school.
It seems as if Maggie is doing everything she can to make sure that Julianna has a great life aside from the tragic moments. And she's also doing her best to make sure a situation like this doesn't happen to others. She believes that Joshua was discharged from the VA too early after showing symptoms, and she knows that many fellow veterans depend on the VA for their own struggles.
Reports state that despite Maggie's pleas, Joshua was released 60 hours into a 72-hour emergency psychiatric hold. If he had been kept longer and treated appropriately, it's possible this would have never happened. Maggie's goal is to make sure Julianna still has support, while also supporting others who love someone with PTSD.
Julianna's childhood may look a little different. But she should get used to this kind of attention — because those who knew Joshua and Maggie have vowed to be there for many of the events her dad can no longer attend. In time, she'll truly realize how much love is behind her. But until then, she can always look back at the videos of the men and women who are so proud of her for starting her educational journey. Hearing the words of wisdom and the encouragement from the deputies and veterans added to the memorable moment.
And it's possible for others to support her, as well. The escort was an idea that was initially posted in the Facebook group, along with ideas on how to honor her father's service for his country. "We would love it if you would bring an American flag and hold it as she drives by in her police escort," the foundation wrote. "Her Dad was a proud Veteran who loved and served our Country proudly."
By supporting Julianna, these officers and veterans are also helping further spread the awareness of PTSD. Taking care of your brain is just as important as any other organ, and there should never be any shame in taking care of it. For everyone who might be struggling, this story is a good reminder that it's OK to get help. And it's also wonderful to be there for others who've had to suffer through.
If you are struggling with PTSD, the PTSD Foundation of America Veterans Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call them at (877) 717-PTSD (7873) for information and resources.
