There has been enough attention given to the ones who have been the cause of such horrible pain. We wanted, instead, to remind the world of those bright, young lives that have been lost and honor their memories. There are no words that can adequately describe what the pain and loss these families are now enduring, have endured, and will have to face during this upcoming holiday season.
We cannot take away their pain but in this small act, we hope we can help to carry the burden of what those in the Newtown community will be facing and those who have had to endure this in the past. You are not alone in this time of grief, for an entire nation joins you and although, our sadness and tears cannot come close to matching yours, we will continue to carry your children and loved ones with us as a reminder that they lived and as a reminder to appreciate our families more.
Know that in the dark days ahead, you are loved and thought of. Know that a nation stands beside you in prayer and in strength. Know that your children and loved ones have found peace with God and are free from all pain and all fear. Although, right now, these words may offer little to no real comfort, we give them nonetheless, with open hearts and open hands. We promise not to forget--not to forget the tragedies, not to forget the names, not to forget to keep them close to us.
We pray that God will bless over each of these families, those in Newtown and those who have had to face this type of tragedy in the past. Know that the season of mourning will not last forever. There will be a day where the pain will be lifted and you will carry on ahead to live a life that will make your children proud. Until that day comes, we stand with you and offer whatever we can to help to see you through until you find the hope, strength, and the peace to move forward.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." ~Psalms 147:3
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." ~1 Corinthians 13:7
In Memory and in Honor: Never Forgotten
Sandy Hook Elementary, Newtown, Connecticut (December 14, 2012)
Charlotte Bacon, 6
Daniel Barden, 7
Rachel Davino, 29
Olivia Engel, 6
Josephine Gay, 7
Ana Marquez-Greene, 6
Dylan Hockley, 6
Dawn Hochsprung, 47
Madeleine Hsu, 6
Catherine Hubbard, 6
Chase Kowalski, 7
Jesse Lewis, 6
James Mattioli, 6
Grace McDonnell, 7
Anne Marie Murphy, 52
Emilie Parker, 6
Jack Pinto, 6
Noah Pozner, 6
Caroline Previdi, 6
Jessica Rekos, 6
Avielle Richman, 6
Lauren Rousseau, 30
Mary Sherlach, 56
Victoria Soto, 27
Benjamin Wheeler, 6
Allison Wyatt, 6
Columbine High School, Colorado (April 4th, 1999)
Century 16 Movie Theater--Aurora, Colorado (July 25, 2012)
Veronica Moser-Sullivan (6 years old), she had just learned how to swim and was excited for first grade.
John Thomas Larimer, a cryptologic technician, third class for the U.S. Navy.
John Blunk, 26-year-old Navy veteran (pictured with his girlfriend, Jansen Young). When the shots began, Blunk pushed Jansen down between the theater seats and shielded her with his body. Blunk is survived by his four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.
Alexander Jonathan Boik, 18 years old, graduated from Gateway High School and had planned to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
Jesse Childress, 29-year-old cybersystems operator at Buckley Air Force Base. He jumped in front of his friend and fellow solider, Munirih Gravelly, saving her life.
Gordon Cowden, 51-year-old native of of Austin, Texas, small business owner and outdoorsman. He his survived by his wife and two teenage sons.
Jessica Ghawi, 24-years-old and was an San Antonio sports writer.
Matt McQuinn, 27-years-old. He jumped on top of his girlfriend Samantha Yowler (pictured) during the shooting and saved her life.
Micayla Medek, 23-years-old, native of Aurora, Colorado where she had attended Community College of Aurora and worked at Subway.
Alex Sullivan had gone to the movie theater to celebrate his 27th birthday with friends. He had just been about to celebrate his first year wedding anniversary with his wife Cassandra two days later.
Alex Teves, 24-year-old graduated from the University of Arizona in 2010 and had just earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Denver in June. He had died while shielding his girlfriend, Amanda, from gunfire.
Rebecca Wingo, 32-years-old. She was a single mother and had served in the Air Force as a Mandarin Chinese translator. She is survived by her two daughters.
Noris Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia (April 16, 2007)
Want to help the Sandy Hook Elementary families? Donate to the relief fund and send your own condolences to the families.
Join the grassroots campaign 20 CHILDREN which works toward ending senseless gun violence.
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