Delaware marks morning moment of silence
People everywhere are looking for a way to deal with the pain and grief they feel for families who lost their children in the senseless shootings in Newtown, Conn.
Two Rehoboth Beach brothers expressed their feelings by creating a memorial of Christmas greens that stands along the Boardwalk. As if by magic, 20 memorial wreaths and six evergreen crosses appeared late Dec. 18 near the Bandstand.
The memorial is a tribute to the 20 children and six adults murdered Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Below each wreath is the name of a child who died, and tied to each wreath is a Christmas stocking containing their name. Six crosses - three on each side - bear the names of the slain adults to complete the memorial.
Brothers Donald and Damian Richard coordinated the project with help from Joe and Heidi Fuller. The brothers constructed the memorial Tuesday night. “We were hoping we would not get in trouble from the city, but we wanted to do something good,” Damian said. “We felt in our heart that we had to do something.”
His brother and Joe Fuller both work for the City of Rehoboth Beach and help decorate the town each Christmas season. “We really didn't think it would be a problem,” Damian said.
And it wasn't.
The brothers said they hoped people would stop for a few moments, view the memorial and take time to reflect and perhaps say a prayer. “We are trying to bring Connecticut a little closer to us,” Damian said. “We can't imagine what those families are going through, especially so close to Christmas.”
He said he hoped the memorial would stay up until at least after the holiday season.
“I give all the credit to my brother,” Damian said. “He was literally sick to his stomach and was looking for a small way to pay tribute to the shooting victims. He paid for everything out of his own pocket.”
Katherine Hartman, the grandmother of young shooting victim Josephine Grace Gay, lives in Angola.
Governor asks for moment of silence on Friday
Gov. Jack Markell called on Delaware residents to join with Connecticut residents in observing a moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Markell is also asked churches to toll 26 chimes in memory of the victims.
Candlelight vigil taking place at Lewes Beach
Lewes-area residents will join for a candlelight vigil in memory of the Newtown, Conn., shooting victims at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at Lewes Beach.
