My only son Christian loved his family, his daughter Jaden and life. He was not only a remarkable son; he was a veteran who served our country honorably and heroically in Iraq. He survived war just to come home and be gunned down for being a father to his daughter. On October 12, 2013, Christian went to pick up Jaden, as he’d planned for months. He called his father, stating that his father-in-law was using profanity at him. Upon my husband’s arrival five minutes later, he found Christian lying face-down on the porch. His father-in-law had stood over him, fatally shooting him in the back, just inches beneath tattoos with a star, roses and script—”Forever young”” on one side and “Jaden” on the other.
Christian made this keepsake in elementary school, and he was so proud of it. He stored everything he held close to his heart in this box. A picture of Jaden is in there. He loved and treasured her with all his heart.