Showing posts with label Shooting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shooting. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Michelle Obama's Letter to Newtown, CT

Michelle Obama

Pol Light Moment #40 occurred on December 20, 2012, when Michelle Obama wrote a letter to the families who suffered loss in the Newtown, CT school shooting on December 14, 2012.  Michelle Obama was the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

Here is the words of the letter Michelle Obama wrote to Newtown, Connecticut.


December 20, 2012

Over the past week, we as Americans have been united in our grief as Newtown has laid to rest so many beautiful, innocent children, along with the heroic educators who worked every day to help them achieve their dreams.


As a mother of two young daughters, my heart aches for you and your families. Like so many Americans, I wish there were something — anything — I could do or say to ease your anguish.

But I know that I cannot begin to imagine the depths of your grief. I know that for many of you, the pain you are enduring right now seems unbearable; and many of you may be asking yourselves, how can we go on — as families and as a community?


But I also know that we have already begun to see the answer to that question in the countless acts of courage, kindness and love here in Newtown and across America.


Over the past week, I have been awed and inspired by Newtown's heroes: the first responders who risked their lives at a moment's notice; the educators whose devotion to their students shone brightest in one of our nation's darkest hours; the children who comforted each other despite their fear; the families coming together to support each other as they grieve.


And I am so proud of the outpouring of love and support that has come from every corner of America: from first responders from neighboring cities rushing to help however they could; from people in Cleveland and Charlotte and Juneau and so many other communities joining together to honor Newtown with their thoughts and prayers; and in living rooms and houses of worship and the halls of our government, where we are beginning to have those difficult conversations about how we can build a safer, more peaceful tomorrow for all our children.


And I want you to know that this is just the beginning. As my husband has said, in the coming weeks, he will use all the powers of his office to engage citizens from across this country to find ways to prevent tragedies like this one. And please know that every minute of every day, we are thinking of you, and praying for you, and holding you and your families in our hearts as you begin the slow and wrenching work of healing and moving forward.


In the months and years ahead, may the memories of those beautiful children and those heroic adults be a blessing for their families, for your community, and for our country, and may God bless you all.


First Lady Michelle Obama, Washington, D.C. 
(Source of Letter's Publication)


Michelle Obama's husband, President Barack Obama was featured as Pol Light Moment #38 for his response to the Newtown, CT tragedy. Readers may find that related post of interest as it lists the names of those lost as a memorial to those that perished in the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Michelle Obama has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all the posts featuring Michelle Obama search with the label Michelle Obama.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Michelle Obama is in the Public Domain.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Barack Obama Responds to Newtown, CT School Shooting

Barack Obama
Pol Light #38 is when Barack Obama responded to the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday, December 14, 2012. He was moved to tears in his public statement on the tragedy.  Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States. He served as President of the United States from 2009-2017.

On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and shot and killed 6 school officials (including the principal, school psychologist, and teachers) as well as 20 of the youngest age children. The list of victims is as follows:

Charlotte Bacon, F, 02/22/06
Daniel Barden, M, 09/25/05
Rachel Davino, F, 07/17/83
Olivia Engel, F, 07/18/06
Josephine Gay, F, 12/11/05
Ana M. Marquez-Greene, F, 04/04/06
Dylan Hockley, M, 03/08/06
Dawn Hocksprung, F, 06/28/65
Madeleine F. Hsu, F, 07/10/06
Catherine V. Hubbard, F, 06/08/06
Chase Kowalski, M, 10/31/05
Jesse Lewis, M, 06/30/05
James Mattioli, M, 03/22/06
Grace McDonnell, F, 11/04/05
Anne Marie Murphy, F, 07/25/60
Emilie Parker, F, 05/12/06
Jack Pinto, M, 05/06/06
Noah Pozner, M, 11/20/06
Caroline Previdi, F, 09/07/06
Jessica Rekos, F, 05/10/06
Avielle Richman, F, 10/17/06
Lauren Russeau, F, 06/82 (exact date left off list)
Mary Sherlach, F, 02/11/56
Victoria Soto, F, 11/04/85
Benjamin Wheeler, M, 09/12/06
Allison N. Wyatt, F, 07/03/06

The following is a video of the statement that Barack Obama made after the shooting. Obama also went to Newtown, Connecticut on Sunday, December 16, 2012 to attend an interfaith memorial service for the victims (Source).


At the end of his remarks to this tragedy in the above video, Barack Obama said:
We are going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this regardless of the politics. This evening Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we'll tell them that we love them, and we'll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight. And they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come that community needs us to be at our best as Americans and I will do everything in my power as President to help, because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need -- to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours. May God bless the memory of the victims and, in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.
For more information on the event you can see a new Wikipedia page dedicated to the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting. For other posts on Barack Obama search with the "Barack Obama" label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
 
The photo of Barack Obama is in the Public Domain as his official photo.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Gabrielle Giffords Steps Down From Congress

Photo of Gabrielle Giffords

Pol Light Moment #2 comes from Arizona, where Gabrielle Giffords who is fighting to recovery from a tragedy decides the best thing for her constituents is for her to step down. This moment includes an ongoing and inspiring fight for recovery from brain injury and and acknowledgment that there are things in life more important than politics.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot on January 8, 2011 in Tuscon, Arizona along with 18 other people (Source). For a year Rep. Giffords has been fighting hard to recover from a traumatic brain injury caused by being shot at point blank range on that day.

In an unexpected move, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords resigned her seat in Congress on January 25, 2012, saying she needed more time to work on her recovery and she wanted to do what is best for Arizona. She had represented Arizona's 8th Congressional District from 2007 until her resignation in 2012.

Here is the announcement she made on YouTube about her resignation.


For more information on the long first year of Rep. Giffords recovery, see the ABC News 20/20 story on Gabrielle Giffords recovery.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo in this post is in the Wikipedia Commons because it is an official photo of a United States Representative.