A CONNECTICUT TRAGEDY - THE HEROES AMONG US

 A YOUNG MAN WHOSE SOUL WENT DARK - SEEMINGLY HAD NO USEFUL PURPOSE IN LIFE EXCEPT TO INFLICT AGREGIOUS PAIN ON INNOCENT PEOPLE.  IT HAS BECOME AN INDELIBLE REMINDER OF SO MANY SIMILAR TRAGEDIES.

AS DAWN HOCHSPRUNG AND HER COLLEAGUES CONFRONTED THE GUNMAN, THEY SACRIFICED THEIR “TODAY” IN A VALIANT EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE CHILDRENS’  “TOMORROW”.  MANY PEOPLE WILL WALK IN AND OUT OF OUR LIVES, BUT THIS LOVE, SO DIVINE, WILL LEAVE THE DEEPEST FOOTPRINTS IN OUR HEARTS. 

 AS A TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICE, THE SCHOOL COULD BE RENAMED IN THEIR MEMORY – NOT AS A SYMBOL OF THIS TRAGIC EVENT, BUT MORE PRECISELY, IN MEMORY OF THEIR ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE NAME OF “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE”.  

 DAWN HAD A WONDERFUL, CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY AND, LIKE HER SIX COLLEAGUES, WAS TANACIOUSLY PROTECTIVE OF THE CHILDREN.   THEY POSSESSED A STRONG SENSE OF DIGNITY, STRENGTH AND COURAGE – MAKING THE POINT BEYOND WORDS.  I BELIEVE THEIR LEGACY WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD THROUGH THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THOSE SO NEAR AND DEAR TO THEM.

THESE COURAGEOUS PEOPLE ACCEPTED NOT ONLY THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT CAME TO THEM IN LIFE,  BUT, ALSO THE GREAT CHALLENGES THAT CAME TO THEM NEAR THE END.  THESE HEROES WERE SO EXCEPTIONAL IN THEIR QUEST TO COMMUNICATE WITH, AND PROTECTING THE STUDENTS AT THE DEEPEST, HUMAN LEVEL

RON PAWLEY

GREECE, NY