Ten years after the tragedy of Sandy Hook that saw 26 individuals lose their lives to gun violence, representatives of the National Teacher’s Hall of Fame have traveled to Connecticut to pay their respects.
The representatives, including Hall of Fame Administrative Assistant Jennifer Baldwin, Sally Conard and former Hall of Fame Director Carol Strickland, traveled to Newtown, Connecticut, in order to place a wreath at the Sandy Hook Memorial in remembrance of the tragedy from Dec. 14, 2012. Strickland says it was vitally important for the Emporia representatives to be in attendance as Sandy Hook was more than just a Connecticut tragedy, it was felt across the entire country.
Retired Newtown Public School administrator Dr. Anthony Salvatore welcomed the Emporia contingent to town and took time to speak with KVOE News ahead of Wednesday’s activities. Salvatore says seeing the support they have from around the nation has been vital to the community’s healing process.
Ten years ago, a lone gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary school and proceeded to take the lives of 20 students and six educators. The shooting grabbed national headlines and began a large dialogue on gun control, gun violence and safety within schools.
Strickland says progress has been made in the time since Sandy Hook, however, there is still more that we can do. She adds that the greatest difference between now and then was the emotional impact the shooting had on the entire nation.
The wreath being placed at the memorial contains 26 individual flowers, recognizing the 26 individuals lost in the shooting. The Sandy Hook Memorial officially opened in November.
In addition to the Emporia representatives, families of those lost and Sandy Hook representatives, Conneticut-based members of the National Teachers Hall of Fame are also scheduled to be in attendance for Wednesday’s ceremony.
