Monday, December 17, 2012

In memory of the innocent



        It's monday. A new week. Hannukah just ended, Christmas just around the corner, and the celebration of the new year 2013 follows the week after.  These ought to be festive times.  These ought to be hopeful times. But as I handed the last hannukah night's present to my daughter, I couldn't help but think about the children who were murdered in Newtown, Connecticut. As I stare at my daughter's lit up face, my heart weeps for the parents who are missing this moment, and would miss this moment come Christmas day. Their presents are probably all wrapped up, tucked away where the little ones couldn't peek at them. Olivia, Daniel, Dylan... I wonder what their little hearts desired for this season.
        Sleep little ones, and may your memories turn to blessings.

“In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes them unawares.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Charlotte Bacon (2/22/06), 6 years old
Daniel Barden (9/25/05), 7 years old
Olivia Engel (7/18/06), 6 years old
Josephine Gay (12/11/05), 7 years old
Ana M. Marquez-Greene (4/4/06), 6 years old
Dylan Hockley (3/8/06), 6 years old
Madeleine F. Hsu (7/10/06), 6 years old
Catherine V. Hubbard (6/8/06), 6 years old
Chase Kowalski (10/31/05), 7 years old
Jesse Lewis (6/30/06), 6 years old
James Mattioli (03/22/06), 6 years old
Grace McDonnell (11/4/05), 7 years old
Emilie Parker (05/12/06), 6 years old
Jack Pinto (05/05/06), 6 years old
Noah Pozner (11/20/06), 6 years old
Caroline Previdi (9/07/06), 6 years old
Jessica Rekos (5/10/06), 6 years old
Avielle Richman (11/17/06) 6 years old
Benjamin Wheeler (09/12/06), 6 years old
Allison N. Wyatt (07/03/06), 6 years old
Lauren Rousseau (June 1982), Staff member, 30 years old,
Rachel Davino (7/17/83), Staff member, 29 years old
Mary Sherlach (2/11/56), Staff member, 56 years old
Victoria Soto (11/04/85), Staff member, 27 years old
Anne Marie Murphy (7/25/60), Staff member, 52 years old
Dawn Hochsprung (6/28/65), Principal, 47 years old
Nancy Lanza, 52 years old
Source: USA Today