Newtown Massacre Remembered Four Years Later

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Category: World News

Published on Wednesday, 14 December 2016 08:36

Written by Janet Walker

Sandy Hook Elementary school, the scene of one of the nation’s worst mass shootings in history, paused today taking fifteen minutes beginning at 9:30am until 9:45am to reflect, on the tragedy that stuck this hamlet four years ago.

Four years ago, Newtown, Connecticut, was preparing for the Christmas season. Lists were made, Holidays plans were finalized, families, friends all excited. Four years ago, not unlike today, decorations were hung in the town square, worship services and the Nativity play were in rehearsals, the neighbors were hanging the lights.

In a nano-second, Newtown became known for a massacre of the innocent. Within 15 minutes on December 14, 2012 reports were filtering of a school shooting with casualty.

Also Read - Sandy Hook Massacre: The Slaughter of the Innocent

By mid-afternoon, the news continued to reveal the horrific tragedy, By day’s end, the images were flashing around the world of huddle families, of grieving sisters, children walking out in single file and worse that a local mentally ill gun enthusiast, murdered his mother before driving the short distance to Sandy Hook elementary school and shooting through the fortified front door.

Murdering Principal Dawn Hochsprung, who attempt to negotiate with this well armed scrawny teenager. Even at 20, Adam Lanza looked slight and younger.

With the principal dead the shooter knew his time was short and armed with an AK-47, modified to deliver nearly 900 rounds per minute, a Gluck, and several magazines, Lanza moved through the school, making the turn into the wing where the youngest of Sandy Hook’s student body were huddled, unsure of the sounds that were filtering over the PA.

When the day ended, Lanza had murdered 20 first and second graders, and six dedicated educators. He took his own life as police arrived on the scene.

In the time since that tragic day, Sandy Hook has been surpassed by a nightclub massacre, Pulse, in Orlando Florida, that killed fifty patrons as the worst gun tragedy.

Also Read - Sandy Hook Massacre: The Funeral Procession

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden moved immediately to sign by executive order federal regulations regarding gun purchase and taking steps toward common sense gun control.

Legislation was attempted more than once always falling short of the necessary support to move forward in the Senate.

Surviving parent formed the Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit that continues to hold legislators accountable and push for common sense gun reform. With small victories the organization is continuing its efforts.

The victims of Sandy Hook Massacre are Charlotte Bacon, 6, Daniel Barden, 7, Noah Pozner, 6, Jack Pinto, 6, Jesse Lewis, 6, Grace McDonnell, 7, Dylan Hockley, Jessica Rekos, 6, Ana Marquez-Green, 6, Madeline Hsu, Olivia Engel, 6, James Mattioli, 6, Chase Kowalski, 6, Catherine Hubbard, 6, Josephine Gay, 7, Emilie Parker, 6, Caroline Previdi, 6, Avielle Richman, 6, Benjamin Wheeler, 6. and  Allison Wyatt, 6.

Educators: Vicki Soto, 27, Mary Sherlach, 56, Dawn Hochsprung, Rachel D’Avino, 29, Lauren Rousseau, 30 and Anne Marie Murphy, 52.

The circle of devastation widens as each person is mourned by those who loved, nurtured and ever knew any of these individuals.

The lives of the innocent impacted the world with the deep loss.