photo by: Kevin Van Paassen, The Globe and mail
I simply cannot fathom the grief, loss, and pain that the families are experiencing as a result of the tragedy that overcame the peaceful town of Newtown, Connecticut, as well as our nation on December 14th, 2012. As a parent, it really hits home – to the core – when you hear of children being hurt in any way. It was a senseless act of violence that we never want our children to experience, or even have to comprehend. Our entire household has been in tears for days now, as we grieve for these children and their families, as well as the teachers whose lives ended far too abruptly. I can barely hold back the tears as I write this.
photo by: Adress Latif-Reuters
As vigils around the world for the Newtown victims continue, and funeral services commence, we pay homage to all of the young children and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 12 girls, 8 boys, and seven adult women – we celebrate their memory and their lives, and we send our prayers and continued support to their families. (video made available via ABC News):
Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Rachel Davino, 29 (Teacher)
Josephine Gay, 7
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
Dylan Hockley, 6
Dawn Hochsprung, 47 (School Principle)
Madeline Hsu, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Nancy Lanza, 52
James Mattioli, 6
Anne Marie Murphy, 52 (Teacher)
Jack Pinto, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Lauren Rousseau, 30 (Teacher)
Mary Sherlach, 56 (School Psychologist)
Victoria Soto, 27 (Teacher)
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6
The beautiful Angels (clockwise from top left): Daniel Barden, seven, Charlotte Bacon, six, Ana Marquez-Greene, six, Caroline Previdi, six, Avielle Richman, six, Benjamin Wheeler, six, Olivia Engel, six, Noah Pozner, six, Jesse Lewis, six, James Mattioli, six, Dylan Hockley, six, Emilie Parker, six, Grace McDonnell, seven, Chase Kowalski, seven, Jack Pinto, six, Josephine Gay, seven, Jessica Rekos, six, and Catherine Hubbard, six.
Allison N. Wyatt, six, and Madeline Hsu, six, are not pictured. photo via Daily Mail
We pay respects to these innocent lives by reflecting on our own lives and our personal blessings. We can give our own loved ones (our children, siblings, nieces, nephews, godchildren, friends, neighbors) an extra tight hug today while telling them “I love you“. Or we can ponder on how we, as a nation can work together to support these families as they work towards healing, and achieving some sense of normalcy, especially for the young surviving children whose lives are forever changed.
Here are some programs that are made available to us:
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
— United Way of Western Connecticut in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank has created this fund to provide support services to the families and community that have been affected.
My Sandy Hook Family Fund — Newtown community members have set up an EverRibbon.com page to collect donations through Union Savings Bank in Newtown. This was started to help the families who has lost children and family members from this tragedy. Donations will go toward helping them meet immediate expenses such as funeral services, food, home expenses, day care, fuel and insurance.
At a sidewalk Memorial, teddy bears, each representing a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Newtown, Connecticut. photo by David Goldman, AP Photo
We send our prayers and thoughts of love and support to the parents and families who are suffering such loss, the surviving children and educators that were involved, and the victims themselves.
With love and prayers,
db
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