Last year, Jack and Kristina Wagner faced an unimaginable tragedy – the loss of their beloved son, Harrison Wagner, at just 27 years old. In the midst of their grief, the Wagners are finding solace in cherishing their son’s memory and finding meaningful ways to honor him. Let’s delve deeper into the beautiful ways the Wagner family is keeping Harrison’s spirit alive.
Treasured Memories
Recently, Jack Wagner took to Instagram to share a tender snapshot of Harrison from his childhood. The photo captures a young Harrison, tending to a campfire while preparing to roast a sausage link. Accompanying the heartfelt image, Jack captioned, “My youngest, so pure, so perfect. I love you Harrison, I miss you Harrison. My heart goes out to parents who have lost a child. There are no words, so we cry and celebrate Harrison Hale Wagner 12/1/94-6/6/22.”
In a similar vein, Kristina Wagner shared a touching video of Harrison that brings her comfort during this painful time. She explained in the caption, “We shot this video on Araby Trail, and here I am posting it on the first anniversary of Harrison’s passing. His words bring me solace. Losing my boy is brutally painful, but I still hold onto an open mind, happiness, love, and hope for wishes to come true. Thank you, Harrison.”
The video showcases Harrison, shirtless and holding a rock, making a wish and releasing it. In his poignant words, he touches upon the struggles he faced, saying, “I know everybody experiences pain and struggles in life. That’s why we reach out to something greater than ourselves, to the beliefs beyond us. We wish for an incredible life, open-mindedness, happiness, and love. Let’s make a wish.”
A Tragic Loss and a Resilient Response
Harrison’s devastating departure was the result of a suspected drug overdose involving fentanyl and alprazolam, also known as Xanax. In the wake of this heart-wrenching tragedy, the Wagner family released a statement acknowledging Harrison’s battle with addiction. In honor of his memory, they established the Harrison Wagner Scholarship Fund, which aims to support young men who are struggling with substance abuse.
Through this fund, Jack and Kristina hope to provide financial assistance to those who cannot afford addiction treatment. The couple’s General Hospital castmates joined them in their grief, choosing to forgo the 49th annual Daytime Emmy Awards held around the same time as their loss. Kelly Monaco, who portrays Sam McCall on the show and has experienced a similar tragedy in 2021, expressed her support, stating, “It’s a family, and the same compassion has been extended to Kristina and Jack. My heart goes out to them because I know exactly what they’re going through. It’s a tragedy. And I hope more people become aware of the epidemic that has persisted for decades.”
Ensuring Harrison’s Legacy Lives On
Driven by their own sorrow, the Wagner family is passionately committed to ensuring Harrison’s memory endures through the Harrison Wagner Scholarship Fund. They believe this initiative will create opportunities for young men to seek help and overcome their addiction struggles. The funds raised through this effort will contribute to New Life House, a recovery community, assisting with rent payments for individuals on their journey to recovery.
As we reflect on the immense loss suffered by the Wagner family, let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Share this article with others to offer your condolences and support to the Wagners during this difficult time. Together, we can honor Harrison’s memory and raise awareness about the ongoing battle against addiction.
