Last week, we learned that Joshua Ballman, son of fallen Officer Tom Ballman, had written a beautiful letter thanking The Corner Pub & Grill family of restaurants for their support of The BackStoppers. We were very touched by his kind words. It quickly became clear Joshua’s letter had a big impact on the community. Comments of support and gratitude poured in on social media. Many took time out of their day to share memories of Officer Ballman and tell Joshua he and his family remain in their thoughts.
The Corner Pub & Grill co-owner Brant Baldanza was no exception. He recently posted his heartfelt response, which we’re happy to share here-
We’re grateful to have the support of Brant Baldanza, Jon Fogarty, and everyone in The Corner Pub & Grill family to help us continue our mission.
It is an honor to help Joshua and his family. He’s a wonderful person, of whom we’re very proud. Joshua’s letter written from the heart is included here-
Officer Tom Ballman was killed in the line of duty on February 7th, 2008 when a man opened fire on a City Council meeting in Kirkwood, MO. After fatally shooting Sgt. Biggs outside, the gunman entered the meeting and approached and shot Officer Ballman. The man then killed three others and wounded two more. Officer Ballman had served with the Kirkwood Police Department for 9 years and was the department’s spokesperson and community service officer. He had previously served with the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department for two years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. We are eternally grateful to Officer Tom Ballman for making the ultimate sacrifice for our safety.