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Columbine Survivor Says Grieving is a 'Long, Long Journey'

Crystal Woodman Miller spoke Sunday at Cavalry Chapel of Southbury.

Crystal Woodman Miller survived the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. On Sunday, at Cavalry Chapel of Southbury, she shared her story of survival and offered hope and comfort to those who continue to grieve following the horrific school shooting in Newtown on Dec. 14.

Miller said she was honored to speak with the congregation and was awed by the local communities and their reaction to the recent tragedy.

“I’ve watched this part of the country on the news the past few weeks and found and seen people of kindness, tenderness and sensitivity,”she said.

Miller, who is the mother of a 19-month-old daughter and pregnant with a second child, said she grieves during every tragedy, but that the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School struck a much deeper cord.

As she prayed with the congregation she told them to feel comfortable with however they are dealing with this tragedy and to accept the grieving process in any form it may come to them.

“As you mourn, as you grieve, there is no proper way to do that," Miller said. "No one can tell you how to grieve or what that looks like. This is a long, long journey that is just beginning.”

On Monday, she visited the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company and the Newtown Police Station, before heading back to Colorado.

To listen to Miller’s full speech visit the Cavalry Chapel of Southbury website.

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Lois Imbriano Barber May 18, 2013 at 08:24 pm
To further support my support of Aurelia, the letter above states it was the New York Post thatRead More wanted the details. Good for you town clerk! I goggled the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information and they are indeed nothing more than a non-profit group. They are not a government agency. And an inept one - their own website is a mess. What clowns.- http://ctcouncilfoi.org/
Jeff May 18, 2013 at 02:50 pm
Town Clerk Aurelia is already causing the town to needlessly spend money defending her derelictionRead More of duty: "An attorney representing the town, with the law firm Cohen and Wolf, issued an opinion in response to the, (New York), Post's request stating that the public is only allowed to view death and marriage certificates that are "at least one hundred years old." Cost aside she is pushing for a state law that would restrict access to a minors birth certificate for 6 months, she originally wanted them sealed for 10 years. The only thing the proposed law is going to accomplish is the healing that has been accomplished is going to be undone when the seal expires. This is much ado about nothing. http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Newtown-officials-withhold-death-certificates-4526713.php
Jeff May 18, 2013 at 02:07 pm
While I have no desire to view any of these death certificates, the law is the law. I have neverRead More viewed a death certificate, I doubt there is anything listed beyond the name of the decedent, dates of birth & death, parentage, and cause of death. Town Clerk Aurelia is clearly in violation of her oath of office. Her job is not to be administered based on feelings. In doing this she is opening the town up to F.O.I. violations, potential litigation, and fanning the flames of the crazy conspiracy theories. To quote the article, "we feel its an extreme invasion of privacy for these families." Should someone take this to F.O.I. or put it before a judge the town will lose. Do your job as required by statute.