Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue (NUSAR) hosted a memorial dive fundraiser this past weekend to raise money for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. The dive was at Dutch Springs, in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, a major dive and training center, popular with recreational and public safety divers in the northeast. All proceeds and admission fees were generously donated to support this fund, which was created to benefit the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, as well as local first responders.
"We wanted to do something special for the town that has given us so much support over the years" said Jeremy Stein, event organizer and rescue diver with NUSAR. NUSAR divers Captain Brian Solt, George Robinson and Hans Williams installed a permanent commemorative plaque on a school bus at the bottom of Dutch Springs in memory of the 26 adults and children killed in the shooting on Dec. 14, 2012. The plaque reads “In memory of the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School. Our hearts are broken but our hope is unbreakable”. The state of Connecticut is the background of the graphic, which includes a heart symbol at the geographic location of Newtown, CT. The plaque was designed by Jeremy Stein and John Almstead (also of NUSAR) and fabricated by Greg Hoffmann of Concepts and Design, Brookfield, CT.
In addition, an underwater “candlelight” vigil was held at the bus by 26 divers using green and white glow sticks. The divers came from all over the northeast and as far as Virginia, and consisted of both recreational and public safety divers from various police, fire and search and rescue teams. The bus was located 55 feet below the surface. Approximately 150 people attended the event. "We hope that this event can help our community and first responders to heal from this tragic event." Stein said.
Captain Solt comments “...The day was a step in the long process toward healing and recovery for the town, and we certainly could not have made it a successful day without the tremendous support from Dutch Springs, the many public safety drivers and companies in attendance, as well as the many vendors and volunteers who donated their time or food and dive equipment to the cause...” For more information about this event, you can email at nusarct@gmail.com or go to the facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/SandyHookMemorialDive For more on Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue NUSAR , go to nusar.org
