John,

In the weeks following my sweet little Daniel's murder, people told me: "It will get easier. Every day, it will get a little easier." But I've found that the opposite is true – because with every day I live, I'm one day further away from my life with Daniel. The gulf keeps getting bigger.

Soon, I’ll have spent more days without Daniel than with him. It just breaks my heart even more.

The only way I can push through the agony of waking up every day and remembering Daniel isn’t here is to make sure that every day that separates me from my son also honors him.

That’s why I spend every day working with Sandy Hook Promise to protect children from gun violence – and that’s why our 12/14 Remembrance T-shirts are so special to me: Because every time I see someone wearing one, I know Daniel’s legacy lives on. So I hope you’ll join me in keeping his legacy alive this year by wearing a special Sandy Hook Promise T-shirt on 12/14 to show your promise and commitment to keeping our kids safe.

We only have 1,500 T-shirts available, so will you donate $26 before the deadline this Friday to get yours?

Please donate $26 to Sandy Hook Promise now to receive your “Change Starts With a Promise,” “Giving It All I Got” or special 12/14 Remembrance T-shirt. Every T-shirt you purchase also helps us continue preventing tragedies like Sandy Hook. But to ensure you get it in time to wear on the 12/14 Remembrance Day, orders need to be submitted by Friday – so don’t wait to get yours.

Together, this community has helped avert multiple school shooting threats and saved lives. This Remembrance Day is another opportunity for us to show the world that while our hearts may be broken, our resolve is not. I know life without Daniel will never get easier, but I’ll do whatever it takes to honor him and prevent other families from the never-ending pain of losing a child to gun violence.

Thank you for being such an important part of Daniel’s legacy.

Mark Barden (Daniel’s father)