Thank you for friends and family who came from near and far to pay respects to our son, Mark V. Peters Jr.

We are so grateful for the outpouring of support at this tragic time in our lives. Special thanks to Father Nagle for a beautiful service, Lenny from Chapman, Cole and Gleason for your compassion, Megan and her angels who sang so beautifully for all of us and Tim Williamson. Thank you Tim for watching out for us. Thank you to our children who traveled thousands of miles to come home and say goodbye to their brother/uncle and to help us send him off to the sea to be with his mother.

Thank you to those who are willing to step up and help us move forward to get justice for everyone of our children or family members who have died at the hands of people making money off of the disease of addiction from illegal/legal drugs.

If anyone would like to tell their story anonymous or otherwise, whether you are a struggling active addict or in recovery, a person who might have been a dealer at one time and now regret their decisions, families of loved ones who are active, in recovery or have passed — any and all stories are welcome and needed to help us move forward in the fight against drugs that are killing our families. We need to severely tighten these laws.

Parents, guardians, foster parents and others — please don’t ever live under the assumption that “my child” would not steal drugs from your medicine cabinet. You can never ever take that chance. Please lock up everything, including your liquor. When your child gets hurt at sports or anything that might bring them to the ER, refuse the narcotics that they may be prescribed. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever; most of them work just as well without the high that comes with the opiates.

We are happy to receive letters addressed to: Mark and Cathy Peters, General Delivery, West Tisbury, MA 02575.

Cathy Peters
West Tisbury