It was a solemn anniversary that drew the Oechsner family to the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office last week. Denny Oechsner, who was just a 17-year-old soccer player when he passed away in March of the previous year, was remembered in an act of community and thankfulness. In a social media post shared by the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office, the family commemorated the day with treats including sandwiches and gallons of Denny’s favorite iced tea lemonade, a gesture to express gratitude towards the first responders of that fateful morning. The comforts of home — cookies, chips, and the solidarity of a shared meal — spoke to a family grappling with unspeakable loss yet still reaching out.

According to the social media remembrance, an air of reflection enveloped the room as attendees listened to the Oechsner family's recollections of Denny. In attendance were Sharon Erickson from Firehouse Subs in Grafton, Lieutenant Buechler, Cole (Denny's brother), Heather (his mother), Jonah (another brother), Bryan (his father), and Undersheriff Hermann. The community support was palpable, a collective embrace for a family in mourning. Denny's cause of death has been a topic of concern for his family, who suspects that the multiple concussions he sustained as a soccer player may have contributed, potentially leading to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

CTE, a degenerative brain disease found in athletes with a history of repetitive brain trauma, is known for an array of debilitating symptoms including memory loss, difficulty focusing, and behavior changes. The effects often remain hidden, surfacing insidiously long after the concussions occur. In the face of this tragedy, the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office's post aimed not only to honor Denny but to raise awareness about the imperative of mental health vigilance. "No one should navigate mental health challenges alone," the post read, initiating a community-wide conversation on the need to Stop the Stigma associated with mental health issues.