
Sulphur Springs ECLC student, Preston Arden, holds a candle at
Tuesday night's vigil on the downtown square in memory of the
fallen Connecticut school children, that were the same age as him.
Connecticut School Children Remembered
at Downtown Candle Vigil
by: Bobby McDonald
Hopkins County families, educators, first responders, and citizens joined together on the downtown square, in the shadows of the Hopkins County Courthouse, on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m., to reflect and remember the fallen children and teachers in the massacre last Friday, in Newtown, Connecticut, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Sulphur Springs ISD Superintendent Mike Lamb led the group of some 300 people in a prayer of comfort and asked for direction and guidance to know what to do to prevent such an atrocity happening in our community. "If it be addressing mental health issues, increasing security, or some other thing we need to do, give us the directions," beseeched Lamb. "We pray that nothing of this magnitude affect our children and protect us as we go about teaching the children of Hopkins County!"
SSISD Superintendent Mike Lamb leads those gathered in a prayer.
Poems, songs, and brief words were exchanged as those in the crowd lit candles and watched a video of the faces of those children whose lives were "cut short" by the mass shooting, at their elementary school.
"I just thank God that it wasn't here!" remarked one local grandmother.
"It could happen anywhere!" expressed another bystander.

"My heart is heavy and has been since I learned of this tragedy," remarked a parent. "It's hard to celebrate the joy of Christmas, when I think of those who have lost so much!"

With one last song of praise, the group dispersed to remember, reflect, and say a prayer of thanksgiving for our community being spared.
______
