This Facebook page is to promote a place of healing, greiving, and remembrance for those babies and heroes that were lost on this tragic day. A peaceful garden of sacred ground. We need a place to break ground, then the process can begin. We are sure there are many that will donate time and materials.
As a community, this is a wonderful way to gather together and have a healing process for the years to come. Please feel free to post your comments and information so we can get this started.
Facebook Page: Sandy Hook Memorial Garden
An elegant, well-planned garden... no concession stands or rides... just sounds of water and wind in the leaves and grasses from around the country and around the planet. A place to take family, loved ones... a place to reinforce to them that with each gentle word they speak and in each kind gesture they make in life, to a troubled person, they will make a difference in how that person FEELS... how that person will live... knowing that they were worthy of compassion.
This could be a monument to the world that these lives MEANT something and tens of thousands of people could tell their children 'why' they must go pick out a little stone from their yard or park or forest or savannah or a shell from a beach..... a park for us to show that even in our grief, these lives can be held up as an example of all that is good and pure and THAT is what humanity is about! Not violent video games, or gangs or idolization of thugs.... As they hold that stone or shell in their hand they are TOLD that it represents a life... a life of maybe their future spouse or their own sibling. The life of a future President or a teacher or their best friend. The life of a child they are yet to have of their own. Life. Trying to be pragmatic but simultaneously sensitive….. As much as I can imagine that people naturally will not desire reminders of this terrible thing, it will unfortunately remain the 'elephant in the room'. When the fellow classmates of the little ones graduate grades each year, when they have proms, when they graduate Newtown High... there will be a void.... acknowledged or not.
We already know what it’s like to have a ‘distinction’; a flagpole in the middle of the street, an infamous hospital institution smack in the middle of town, championship school sports teams, (Class of ’74!!!), a crazy man who treated his wife like a piece of lumber, an Olympic Decathlon winner, (okay… we can forget him…) Anyway, I truly, deeply feel that a Garden would be a healthy outlet for many of our hurt citizenry. It could also stand as a symbol to the world that violent acts will not make a hero or legend out of the madmen… it makes heroes and legends out of their innocent victims.
~ We do not wish to duplicate efforts and absolutely do not wish to step on anyone's toes... but our group is chomping at the bit to see this effort come to fruition. ~ We have an attorney who will assist, (pro bono), with the legal aspects, (Tax I.D.'s, etc...)... we just need a place to start. ~ If Ms. Sortino desires to simply join forces with our fledgling group, we welcome the warm bodies, willing hands and warm hearts. ~ I may not be able to hold back our group for long... they want to get started asap.
It would be lovely if you and anyone else interested were to come join and interact in our preliminary discussions.... Conceptual drawings/plans are already in the works.....
http://www.facebook.com/newtownmemorialpark
As a mother of two, I wanted to do something different for Christmas gifts for my kids' teachers this year. I have a kindergartner and absolutely adore his teacher - and have such a deeper appreciation for her after last weeks events. I was hoping I could donate 26 pink flowers to be planted in honor of my son's kindergarten teacher (she loves the color pink) in the Sandy Hook Memorial Garden. Please let me know how to donate. Hugs and prayers to the community of Newtown, CT. Catherine Lucey Corte Mader, CA