Happy Birthday to you, Jacob

by Logan Gruber

operations@thenewsleaders.com

Jacob Wetterling turned 38 years old Wednesday.

The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, founded by his parents Patty and Jerry Wetterling on Jan. 22, 1990, just four months after Jacob was abducted, sent out a statement by Patty for Jacob’s birthday (Feb. 17), which can be read in its entirety at the end of this story.

The story of Jacob’s abduction and the subsequent search for him are indelibly burned into the memories of most, if not all, area residents. While Jacob has not been found, the JWRC has been a beacon of hope to countless families during the past quarter century.

The center provides assistance to families through its staff’s expertise and emotional support during the difficult process of locating a missing child or finding support for exploited children.

In partnership with Gundersen Health, the center provides educational curriculum to front-line child-protection professionals to prepare them to recognize and report the abuse of a child.

According to the organization’s website, Gundersen staff have trained more than 100,000 child-protection professionals in all 50 states, as well as 17 countries.

An outpouring of support for Jacob appeared online when Patty’s letter was released. Below are an anonymous selection of some comments posted to the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center Facebook page:

• “Happy birthday Jacob! We all miss you and love you.“
• “I will never forget this story. Happy birthday to Jacob and prayers for your family. You are a light in this dark world.”
• “We all think of him as we share the same birthday. My mom has always said it’s Jacob’s birthday too. Happy birthday Jacob!”
• “Jacob would be the same age as I am. I have a 12 year old son now. I have followed this story from the beginning. My heart goes out to you and I pray that someday you get answers.”
• “In honor of Mrs. Wetterling’s wish to bring Jacob home, our porch light will stay on.”

You can contact the JWRC on Facebook, by heading to its website, gundersenhealth.org/ncptc/jacob-wetterling-resource-center, or by calling 800-325-HOPE.

Young people and families are also encouraged to study the safety tips located on the back page of this paper. Stop by the Newsleader office at 32 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph to pick-up one of our child ID safety kits. Supply is limited.

What follows is Patty’s birthday letter to Jacob:

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Birthdays are supposed to be about parties, hats and noisemakers, cake, ice cream, friends singing and making wishes but not yet. Not this year, again. How I wish to wrap my arms around you and hug you tight! I have watched the tape of your last birthday party over and over. We rented a suite at the Holiday Inn for your party. You and Aaron raced back and forth in the pool and took turns throwing each other in the deep end. It was so much fun!

I want you to know that since you were stolen away from us, people everywhere have been searching, praying and hoping for your safety and for answers. Last fall, 26 years later, news of possible answers had your story as the number two news coverage in the region. That’s pretty amazing 26 years later. People care. There are more good people than bad in the world and people still hope.

My birthday wish is for you to come home. We need to find you. I have another wish for every child who is home safe today, that they will never have to endure abduction or sexual exploitation of any type. We are working just as hard on prevention as we are on searching because this is so wrong . . . so unfair. I remember how much it bothered you when things were unfair. Me too, it bothers me too.

I am hoping and praying people will remember you on Feb. 17 and we ask everyone hug their kids a little tighter, tell them they love them, and take time to play a game or read books. My wish is also that parents will support agencies that help to find our missing kids and help other victims. Today, we ask everyone to volunteer, attend events, send financial support and share safety information. The non-profit work continues on a daily basis. Sometimes sexual exploitation and abduction are on the news, and sometimes not, yet we all rely on the support and expertise of these agencies when we need them. They are there for us. They need our support as well.

And once again today, Feb. 17, we will light our candles, fix your favorite foods and cake, and thank God for the gift of you.

We love you Jacob and we’ll never stop searching for you!

I so wish for a happy birthday for you . . .

Mom

Patty Wetterling