John,

Today would have been my son Jordan’s 27th birthday.

Jordan’s birthday is always one of the hardest days of the year for me. I think of all the things I should be able to do today – give Jordan presents, watch him blow out the candles on a cake, and give him a big hug. I miss seeing him smile, hearing him laugh, and watching him grow up. 

Every year on his birthday, I sit down and write a letter to Jordan. Today, I want to share that letter with you, John:

Dear Jordan,

You would have turned 27 today. I probably would have joked with you that you’re officially in your “late twenties” now. You would have teased me right back about being a card-carrying AARP member, or something like that. I say “would” because almost ten years ago you were stolen from me. 

I didn’t get to hug and kiss you goodbye. I didn’t get a moment’s notice to anticipate the wave of grief and anger I would feel. You were murdered by a man with a gun who made an impulsive decision to shoot at you and your friends for no good reason.

On that day, you were just 17 years old. We never got to celebrate your 18th birthday, or your 21st. My heart is still broken. 

I would have been so interested in seeing what career you’d chosen. By now, would you have gotten married? Would your father and I have gotten to walk you down the aisle and give toasts at your wedding? 

Sometimes I allow myself to think about what life would have been like… If you were here. If you were alive. If our laws had not failed our family.

But you never made it to 18, or 21, or 27, and so I've worked to honor and celebrate your legacy every day since your murder. Our family thought that you might have gone into organizing, advocacy, or public service because of the way you had with people and your concern for the greater good.

After your death, I felt called to do that work. You live on through me, Jordan. And I live on because of you.

And more than nine years later, here we are today... I've taken my story – your story – to Congress, to fight for common-sense solutions to prevent gun violence in our nation's capital. 

We are carrying out your legacy in Congress, Jordan. We are pushing for gun safety laws because of you.

You would have been 27 today, so happy birthday to you, Jordan. I miss you. I love you so much. 

With love,

– Lucy