Community Corner

Remembering Sandy Hook, Sometimes In Quiet Ways

With hundreds of tributes and vigils nationwide, Newtown residents have found personal ways to honor Sandy Hook Elementary School.

On the six-month anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, there are no shortage of vigils, ceremonies or remembrance efforts. Around the country, candles are lit and porch lights are left on to honor the victims -- the latter a Facebook cause called "Porches and Prayers for Sandy Hook," conceived by the group 26 Seeds of Love for Newtown.

But some forms aren't so easy to spot. A tattoo, for example.

Sandy Hook resident Chuck Maier has worn a small Sandy Hook tattoo on his wrist since the Wednesday after the shooting. He says he never wanted to forget.

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"People will eventually stop wearing the bracelets," he says. "People will stop wearing the t-shirts as much. And that's to be expected. But for something that happened so close to home, I always wanted to have some reminder."

And for him, it's a quiet, personal alternative to the high profile of the six-month anniversary, when TV news vans crowd Main Street.

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"I think it's good to just take a quiet moment to remember," he says. "I've been dreading the six-month anniversary. All the news trucks are going to be back. But I think this is more private, less public. It's a visible thing, but it's not a billboard by the side of the road."

Tattoos are one kind of reminder. Yarn is another. You may notice a knit wrap around a pole in Sandy Hook center, outside Sabrina's. It's a gift from knitters in Colorado, brought to Newtown courtesy of a local knitting group called Cosmic Knittas to remember the six-month anniversary. The group participates in "yarn graffiti," leaving knitted creations around Newtown -- you may have seen more of their work at the Fairfield Hills campus.

One Knitta (who, in true graffiti fashion, wished to remain anonymous), said the three-year-old knitting group has put "little commemorative pieces" around town on the 14th of every month, since January. She says even the act of knitting can have a healing power.

"It's just a peaceful craft," she said. "And it's very comforting to do. It's soothing."

Of course, six months later, signs still stand around town in remembrance of what Newtown has gone through. Around town Friday, it's hard to miss a sea of t-shirts in support of Newtown and Sandy Hook. And, of course, there are still billboards on the road -- often of the handmade variety.

But sometimes they're more subtle -- like a tattoo on a wrist, or a knit wrapped around a street pole.


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