The Parkland survivors paid tribute to Jaime Guttenberg on what would have been her 15th birthday
Friday, July 13th would have been Jaime Guttenberg’s 15th birthday. Guttenberg was one of the 17 victims of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Her friends and Parkland survivors took to social media to honor her. But the most emotional tributes came from Guttenberg’s family. They expressed how much they miss her, how unfair it is that she’s gone, and that they wish they were seeing her get her driver’s permit instead of memorializing her.
The Guttenberg family also made it clear that through their grief, they’ll never stop fighting for common sense gun laws in Jaime’s memory.
“Today would’ve been Jaime’s 15th birthday,” her mother Jennifer Guttenberg wrote in an emotional Facebook post. “I should be posting pictures of her smiling and holding her driver’s permit. She should be driving a car today. She should be spending the day with her family and friends and not laying in a grave. I feel sick. I am horrified. I feel more sad than I’ve ever felt in my life. I am heartbroken. I am empty.”
“TODAY, JAIME IS STILL 14. SHE WILL BE 14 FOREVER,” her father Fred Guttenberg tweeted in a heartbreaking thread. “Because of gun violence, we will not be celebrating her birthday. Instead, we are broken, crying and mourning.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!! Today, Jaime should be turning 15. I should be taking her for her drivers permit. Her family and her friends should be celebrating with her. TODAY, JAIME IS STILL 14. SHE WILL BE 14 FOREVER. Because of gun violence, we will not be celebrating
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) July 13, 2018
“Happy bday to my sister. I miss you each and every day,” her brother Jesse Guttenberg tweeted. “I love you Jaime. Fly high and keep dancing.”
Happy bday to my sister. I miss you each and every day, and it sucks that you can’t be getting your permit today. Couldn’t wait to see you drive. I love you Jaime. Fly high and keep dancing🧡🧡 #orangeribbonsforjaime
— Jesse Guttenberg (@JesseGuttenberg) July 13, 2018
Jaime’s classmates also tweeted messages about gun reform in her memory.
@marcorubio I visited your FL office today and even though you wouldn’t even let us in to the building where we tried to arrange a meeting I gave one of your staffers the present that I brought for you. He said he’ll give it to you but just in case it doesn’t make it here you go pic.twitter.com/pcZ5qpMNhI
— Lauren Hogg (@lauren_hoggs) July 13, 2018
Sending love to the family of Jaime Guttenberg on what should be her 15th birthday.
Please donate to her family’s valiant efforts to demand action in the wake of such terrible loss at https://t.co/zb5QEATzCn
and, in Jaime’s name, please spread nothing but love today.
— Cam Kasky (@cameron_kasky) July 13, 2018
Happy birthday to this beautiful angel, Jaime Guttenberg. Your legacy is carried on through your family, friends, & now…the world. It was an honor to dance with you — I promise I will keep fighting.
Honor her & donate $15 to https://t.co/QBvddloEuE #OrangeRibbonsForJaime 🌎🧡 pic.twitter.com/cnm2iHZlTt
— Jaclyn Corin (@JaclynCorin) July 13, 2018
Happy 15th birthday, Jaime Guttenberg. My heart is with the Guttenberg’s and Jaime’s friends on this hard day.
Honor her with action and give whatever you can to https://t.co/bv6KJR7gfP
🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡— sof (@sofiewhitney) July 13, 2018
Happy birthday Jaime Guttenberg 🧡🦅🧡
— X González (@callmeX) July 13, 2018
No one should have to memorialize their child, sibling, or friend because of gun violence.
We hope that these messages and the countless others from victims of gun violence are heard and help enact real and lasting change. And we’re proud of the Parkland survivors and other young activists who fight for common sense gun laws across the country.
