Jim and Jen Wagner support their community, so when a friend came in to their store, Wagner signs and Graphics, and asked for help they jumped at the chance to help.
Through conversations with their friend Matt Silver, BackBlueLine.com was created.
Silver approached the Wagners with an idea to honor Police Officer Chris Oberheim who was killed while on duty on in Champaign last month.
“We have always been involved in helping other people,” Jen Wagner said.
Silver, his wife, Sam, and Jen Wagner designed a sign to honor Oberheim.
“We made some signs members of the police department,” Jim Wagner said.
Then it expanded to shirts, stickers and hats with proceeds going to the Oberheim family.
Jim Wagner said the response has been massive.
Community members, including IGA owner Todd Woods has helped print signs to keep up with demand.
“It has been pretty overwhelming,” Jim Wagner said.
Some of the customers who have come to pick up orders have walked in to the store located on Lincoln Avenue, seen their signs and just started crying.
“We just hug each other,” Jen said. “It has been a very emotional process.”
Jim said that while they didn’t know Oberheim personally they know people who did know him and everyone has spoken very highly of him.
“He was very good at policing, very conscious of trying to do the right thing all the time,” Jim said.
The Wagners have raised more than $1,000 for the family and sold more than 300 signs.
Jim said he feels the response to the project is not only to honor Oberheim, a family man who served his community for more than 20 years, but also to show support for all police officers.
“I feel like people have been silenced long enough on stuff like this,” Jim said. “This is bringing people together in the community. They want to show their support of the law enforcement and their family.”
Jim said that six months ago people were afraid to put a Back the Blue Sign in their front yard due to the chance of repercussions but now the tragedy of Oberheim’s death has changed that.
“I had someone come in here today and say they were afraid perviously but now they were going to let people know they were a law enforcement house, supported the police and proud of it,” he said.
The Wagners said they have been a strong supporter of law enforcement over the years and are happy to help the community show their support.
“It’s the least we can do,” Jim said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.