Town of Newton , My heart goes all the viticms ,and the families. I can not even image what you are going through. I just want you to know that you have a whole country supporting you in your time of need. Only the good die young , and those were 20 angels that were taken way to soon. May they Rest in Paradise.
by Taylor in Chicago Permalink
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone!! My heart breaks for each and everyone of you! May God bless you and may you find comfort in him. The Mayotts from Charlestown, In
by Kelly in Charlestown Permalink
i feel sad for the parents who lost there kids and i will always keep all of my prayers for the parents
by emilyim5 in austin Permalink
My family's and my thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of terrible tragedy. Although we can only imagine your pain, we pray that our support helps you to stay strong.
by The Derfus Family in Demarest Permalink
Newton-- you have the utmost support from me. I love you with all my heart and am so sorry for the tragedy that has unfolded at your home. I can't imagine what you are going through-- my prayers and my heart goes out to you. Stay strong.
by Chen in West Coast Permalink
Mi corazon esta en pedasos despues delo sucedido soy madre te tres ninos y puedo sentir el dolor que esos padres sientes dios este con ustedes les de la Fortaleza para encontrar resignacion Mis ojos lloran con cada momento que pasa perdon por esos pequenos que estuvieron tam poquito tiempo con Nosotros y nos les dieron tiempo de conocer mas de nuertro planeta son luses que se aPagaron demasiado temprano pidió adiós para que tenga esos hermosos bebés en sus brazos no puedo encontrar palabras para espresar mis dolor tan grande que siento pienso dios les bendiga a las familias de esos ángeles que nos estarán cuidando desde el cielo y guardando un lugarcito para cuando sea la ora de estar allá con ellos los amo como si fueran mis hijos
by Dania in Malden Permalink
To the Families of the victims, my heart aches for you and oddly enough, I thank you... I’ve been trying to figure out why the tragedy in Newtown has impacted me so much, aside from the obvious reasons that is and I think I’ve finally come to understand it. One would think that it is the shear fact that I am a Mommy and have 4 kiddos of my own or that one of mine is 5 1/2 years old and so it hits close to home. Those are valid reasons, but what I realized is that it goes way beyond that. I have cried the tears of sorrow with empathetic grief for the families, the victims, the survivors, and our country. I have looked into my children’s eyes and see the innocence and love and find myself sad for what those families will miss and had taken from them. It tears me up inside to know that the bright futures those children should be excited to experience have been dimmed all too quickly. And it pains me… not in a gee I’ll cry a few tears and I’ll be ok kind of way, but in a truly physically painful way where there is a constant “sick in the gut” kind of feeling. I didn’t understand it, but I think I have finally figured it out. You see, like many other parents out there, I hug my children tighter, relish more in the little daily moments that sometimes get lost in the shuffle of my busy day, stare at my kiddos while they lay sleeping, speak more gently to them and think more clearly about my words I say as I send them off to school, don’t waste a moment to praise them, listen more, pray more, care more, and love more- if that’s even possible. In light of what sorrow comes from something like this, I am relieved to have found something positive in all of this. I am forever changed by the events and I have the families to thank, for their child’s death will not be in vain and they will never be forgotten. I will forever be grateful to them for their gift to me is the reminder to be a better parent and to be grateful for literally every second I am blessed to have my angels here on earth. That no matter how many times I may be frustrated with having to repeat myself, pick up yet another toy, or stop another sibling disagreement, I should remember that I am lucky to be able to have those moments that are thankfully far and few between. Their gift to me is to remember the same feeling I had the day I gave birth to every single child… the unconditional and overwhelming love that so often gets clouded in the day to day duties of life. So for that, I have to simply say thank you for giving me a second chance to be an even better parent because one never knows when it could be too late. ~T. Roach of California
by T. Roach in Wilton Permalink
I'm only 17 but this tragedy has changed my life! I don't understand how someone could take innocent lives. I watched the special on this and I was crying. I know I don't know the pain that these families are going through but I feel some of it. My heart hurts for the families and friends and children impacted by this tragedy. I hope y'all can find peace! Sending love from Oklahoma!!! <3
by Ashley in Southwest Permalink
Stay strong, Newtown! People everywhere are praying for y'all and thinking about y'all nonstop!! Look to God for guidance and support during this horrible time. Sending prayers up for all of you! <3
by Maggie Hughes in Remlap Permalink
My heart is with you. I can't even begin to imagine what any of you are going through, especially those of you who lost someone during this awful tragedy. There is nothing sadder in my eyes than the loss of a child, and I have nothing but admiration for all of the brave school staff members who gave their lives to protect their students. What true heroes. I pray that the survivors of the shooting are able to live their lives with strength, as well as the families of those that were lost. I'm sure there are no words that can be said to bring comfort at a time like this. Just know that you have the love and support of the rest of the country. May all of our new beautiful angels watch over the town of Newtown, Ct. and may the world never know a tragedy such as this one again. God bless you all. Jennifer B
by Jennifer in New York Permalink
We're all praying for you guys over there. Stay strong.
by Paul in Demarest Permalink
While no one will ever say they know what you're going through. Know that the world is here for you. We're sending all our positive energy to you in this difficult time in hopes it might help all of you overcome the horrific ordeal you've been given in your community. Please know that no matter how far we are, we are thinking of the ones you've lost and praying you find some comfort in knowing we're there with you in spirit.
by Katie in Toledo Permalink
On December 14th, 2012, Newtown, Connecticut witnessed the second-deadliest school shooting in our country's history; twenty innocent elementary school children and six brave teachers and administrators were fatally shot and killed. Considering the gravity of what took place just last week, I cannot do this issue justice in a mere note on the Internet, but I can share with you several of the emotions and thought-processes I grappled with upon receiving the horrendous news. Sadness, an abject sorrow that tears your world apart, is always the first to strike. After hearing of the disaster for the first time, I remember meekly making my way through the halls of the great Horace Mann School in a confused state of pity, revulsion, and agonizing pain. It could have been me, or my siblings, or my friends, or my classmates. It wasn't this time, but honestly, who knows about next. Next came a wave of blinding, empowering anger coupled with a desperate need for answers. Especially when discussing the tragedy on social media and in routine conversation, I naturally made my rounds through the blame game as my soul tried to comprehend how the world could have suddenly turned its back on me and the rest of humanity. Another part of me acted up and frantically looked for a way to undoubtably prevent something like this from ever happening again. And to think, they were only children... At this point, I personally turned to pressing national concerns including gun control laws, mental health procedures, and even the role of the media in my overly-ambitious quest to fully understand what had unfolded before me. Even our own school's vital security procedures began to concern me as my self preservationist instincts kicked in. Unfortunately, no new set of laws or forward-looking political statements could adequately resolve the intensely personal questions that faced me—at the risk of sound brash, these conversations about future action almost felt like coping mechanisms. But what is just now beginning to occur to me is a more profound explanation as to why this tragedy touched me so deeply: it forced me to look straight into the eyes of ever-certain Death, confront it in all my glorious vulnerability, and accept the inherent inequity of its ways. As is the regrettable state of the human condition, these horrifying facts of life—of death, evil, and disparity—represent for me, at least partially, what it means to be human. Twenty-six dutiful and innocent members of the Sandy Hook Elementary School died for simply being at the wrong place at the wronge time; we can still recount inspiring stories of their final acts of courage and heroism. Our most accurate estimates hypothesize that approximately 153,000 people perish from this earth every single day. Let me be perfectly clear, I have neither sufficient experience with death nor the ability to wrap my head around the gravity of 153,000 deaths to truly understand what this statistic means. Yet strictly mathematically speaking, we discover that the equivalent of nearly 6,000 Newtown shootings occur every day on this planet. Even sharpening our focus to the United States, only about 0.7% of total deaths are caused by homicide. Now this is not to be misconstrued as my diminishing the severity and magnitude of the Newtown shooting—rarely do we encounter acts of such unadulterated evil. Instead when I read these statistics, my heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones not only in Newtown, but also in cities, towns, and communities all over the world. As hapless teenagers and generally sheltered individuals, we go through life unfettered and unintimidated by our inevitable fates. To add to that, a deep-seeded, noble longing for absolute equality is a hallmark of the collective Horace Mann psyche. Through this lens, it becomes abudnantly clear why just last Friday, our worlds were turned completely upside-down. And so I ask myself, who do I turn to to eradicate this subdued but incessant pain? We would love for our families, friends, religions, or even governments to provide us comfort and absolute certainty through these difficult times, but unfortunately, we must come to terms with the fact that we are ultimately alone, shockingly inequipped to deal with such fundimental, impossible questions.
by Mohit Mookim in Englewood Cliffs Permalink
I can't fathom the whole situation. It is heartbreaking and devasting to me. I have a 7 year old first grader and look at him with tears in my eyes daily since Friday. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. There is not a second that goes by that I do not think of you all from miles away and don't even know you. May God bless your family this holiday time and peace be with you. I know there are no words or actions that can take your pain away. I hope you find comfort in know this tragedy has affected America and those precious babies and heroes will be in our hearts forever.
by Bridget in Harlan Permalink
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. God bless you all in this time of loss and mourning. Please especially help those affected, both parents and children alike.
by Kapil in Phoenix Permalink