Sandy Hook Families Visit Memorials Before They're Removed

The memorials have been removed and some semblance of normalcy has returned to the village of Sandy Hook.

With the thousands of memorials gone, traffic is flowing like before the scores of cars and people from across the country flooded the area to pay their respects to the 26 victims killed on Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

But before the memorials were removed, Sandy Hook center was shut down to traffic and pedestrians so that the families of the victims of the shooting could visit the memorials in private.

The private viewing took place on Dec. 28, from about 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and was set up by the First Selectman's Office, in conjunction with the Newtown Police Department.

"NPD assisted by CSP, diverted traffic and pedestrians away from the Sandy Hook center by Riverside Road memorials so that family members could view in private the heartfelt memorials that were erected by hundreds of mourners and well wishers," states a press release from the police department.

"Family members had the opportunity to reflect on the memorials and keep for their family any items from the memorials that touched them in some way. To respect privacy of the families, police kept all other citizens away from the area while families were on site."

"This opportunity was presented for the families so that the sad process of removing the many tributes from Sandy Hook and around the Town could begin," the release states. "Plans are in place to use these tributes as part of a permanent memorial. Crews from Newtown Public Works will remove and store the items from the memorials until such time that the permanent memorial is built."