Reunion Brings Former, Present Newtown Residents Together

More than 1,000 past and present Newtown students, teachers and parents came together Saturday at Fairfield Hills for the Great Newtown Reunion, bringing together many who hadn't seen each other in years.

One was Jim Jessup, class of '76. After graduating, Jim and his two siblings all ended up in different places along the west coast, from California to Alaska. They don't get to see each other much anymore -- although they did meet up at a family reunion last August.

"But it's been eight years since I last set foot in Newtown," he said. "Eight years gone, good to be back."

No matter how long you'd been away, Newtown became home again for so many former residents for a few hours. One was Mead Treadwell, who's found a certain level of success in the world since graduating -- he's the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska who recently announced a U.S. Senate bid.

"We can all see Newtown from where we live," said Treadwell in his speech to reuniongoers. "Wherever we were that bleak day last December, we were back here that day in our hearts, and every day since. We are here to stand with Newtown. We are here for Newtown Strong!"

The convergence of so many Newtowners kept organizer Wendy Lee Hewitt on her toes. A Key Largo resident, Hewitt made the journey to Newtown this week like so many others. But she's spent nearly every hour of it rushing from place to place, helping reuniongoers find their places and coordinating the nearly 200 volunteers who held the event together. Fortunately, the former nightclub promoter was in her element Saturday afternoon as residents danced on the band floor.

"I was the party girl in Newtown!" she laughed.

And did all the hard work pay off?

"It's been an emotional success," she said. "The reconnection is very tangible. I've seen a lot of smiling."

Organizations like Sandy Hook Promise, Healing Newtown, Newtown Kindness and the Newtown Alumni Association were present, too, along the perimeter of the tent. Hewitt said these groups were "extremely supportive."

"They believed in it," she said.