One year ago today our son, Julian, was killed in a tragic accident. He was three and a half years old, it was the last day of summer, on the eve of what should have been his very first day of school. He had chosen a new pair of shoes for the occasion and was excited to wear them to class. They sit in our room, unused to this day, along with his favorite doudou (his stuffed animal). He asked us that day, with a rye smile, if his teachers at school would speak English or French, knowing they'd speak only French of course, and that he would be able to lightheartedly tease them, as he teased us. His smile and wit lightened our life immeasurably. Abruptly his light was extinguished. Now he lives on in our hearts and memories.
We thank our friends and family for your continued support in what has been a most difficult year. We thank you for the countless letters, messages, post-cards, flowers that we've received from you all, our loving extended family. We thank those who have left a note at Julian's memorial website:
https://www.forevermissed.com/julian-tao-knipper/about. And we especially thank those of you who have made a donation to Julian's memorial charity at the UVA Children's Hospital.
http://get-involved.uvahealth.com/site/TR?px=1032626&fr_id=1160&pg=personalToday we gathered to consecrate a space in his memory - a new summer terrace for our house (a work in progress), a place where we hope to share laughter with family and friends for the decades to come, and where we will always hold him close to our heart.