In Memorium: Sandy Hook Remembered

#blog #sandyhook #avgeek #aviation

In honor of the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy, the Following is an updated Repost of my 12/17/12 article, "Answers to the Sandy Hook Tragedy Found in the Christmas Season." The original link can be found here: http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/12/answers-to-sandy-hook-tragedy-found-in.html

We are all searching for answers after the Sandy Hook school tragedy.  Here's a very important message that relates to the Season...


On the VERY SAME DAY of the school shooting last year, a group of pilots for an organization called "Pilots for Kids" quietly visited and distributed toys and stuffed animals to sick kids at the Phoenix Children's Hospital.

The "Pilots for Kids" team at the Phoenix Children's Hospital

(12/13/13 Addendum: sadly, this year it's been "deja vü all over again". . . another school shooting occurred at the exact same time, this time in Colorado. Fortunately, there's been minimal casualties.)

I have done this for the past several years.  It has always been rewarding, but this year was particularly poignant, as each of us had witnessed in helpless horror the tragedy unfolding on the news that morning.  We had no choice but to put on our happy faces and do our best to bring a little joy into several innocent, suffering, sweet little lives.

We would have done it anyway, regardless of the days' news.
My point . . .

Cap'n Aux visits his new friend Hannah

While a few sick, evil deeds are daily splashed across the headlines, MILLIONS of GOOD, BEAUTIFUL deeds are quietly being performed around the world.  MILLIONS are daily bringing comfort, JOY, and a smile to a child's face.

I  also gave Marcus and Hannah a copy of my first novel, "Code Name: Dodger."  100% of proceeds from the novel go to the orphanage charity, warmblankets.org

I am privileged to do this once a year.  But DAILY, around the globe, others voluntarily perform these heroic deeds, for no other reason than to help others in their needs.

You don't need to be a Christian to ingest these words of wisdom:
"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."—James 1:27

Thousands showed up spontaneously to pray and show support for the victims and their families.

Mother Sue comforts son James after the ordeal.

My friend Terry, former coworker, pilot and regular reader of this blog, went to the very same Sandy Hook grade school.  His brother's children were in school that day.  PRAISE GOD, they were able to escape unharmed (see pic, R).

PLEASE PRAY FOR THEIR HEALING!

(and especially for those of the victims and their families!)

Sandy Hook vigil

  We live in a free society.

  We can take precautions, but, sadly, this will happen again.

  It is easy to be distracted by the awful headlines, get discouraged, become fearful of the world outside our own doors, and fall into despair.

Nevertheless, I say again,

GOOD MARCHES ON.

From the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:

"I have not lost faith. I'm not in despair, because I know that there is a moral order. I haven't lost faith, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice...With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope...and all over the world we will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!'"


 "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."—Edmund Burke

EVIL IS NOT TRIUMPHING.

DAILY, AROUND THE WORLD, GOOD MEN AND WOMEN ARE DOING . . .  

GOOD.

For those parents groping for what to say to your children...this is what you tell them!

"Love conquers all"—Virgil, 70BC-19BC
see also 1 Corinthians 13

In the midst of this tragedy, let us not forget the spirit of the season.  

Whether Christian, Muslim, Jew, atheist, or otherwise, I bid each and every one of you....

PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MAN. 

May the survivors and families of the Sandy Hook tragedy eventually find peace and healing in their hearts. May the beautiful victims rest in peace.

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say.

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

“Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

“This is heaven" declared a small boy. "We’re having Christmas at God's house.”

When what to their wondering eyes did appear, but Jesus, their savior,

The children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same. Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring Those children all flew into the arms of their King

And as they lingered in His loving embrace, One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face. 

And...as if He could read all the questions she had, He gently whispered to her, 

"I'll take care of mom and dad.“Then He looked down on earth, the world far below

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe, Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

“Let My power and presence re-enter this land! May this country be delivered from the hands of fools

“I’m taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!” Then He and the children stood up without a sound.

“Come now my children let me show you around.” Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can. And they heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight, 

“In the midst of this darkness,” I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

—Anonymous

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CLICK HERE to support the victims of Sandy Hook via United Way!

"Evil Did Not Win: Emily's Story"

Link: http://youtu.be/yUR7BFTphmI

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This post is dedicated to the memory of "Heaven's Newest Angel":

Victoria Leigh Soto: The Beautiful Heroine of Sandy Hook

Victoria remembered: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/nyregion/remembering-the-passion-of-victoria-soto-a-sandy-hook-teacher.html?_r=0

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16001132-light-amidst-the-darkness-heroic-teacher-victoria-soto-remembered
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More relevant passages and beautiful tributes to those lost...

"Hallelujah"—sung by the cast and crew of The Voice:

Link: www.youtube.com/v/IO64urOFNaY&fs

A beautiful passage from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965):

Link: http://www.youtube.com/v/UZw06AbW6Vw&fs=1&source=uds

My favorite song of all time, sung by an amazingly graceful young man: 

Link: http://www.youtube.com/v/8aWWE_nug5Q&fs=1&source=uds

Another hero who visits kids (visit superheroesforkids.org):

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Links:

• Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting
• Wiki—Victoria Soto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Leigh_Soto
• Facebook Page for Victims: https://www.facebook.com/ILMSHEV
• Facebook Page for Victoria Soto: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaLeighSoto26
• A Nice CNN Interactive Page for Each Beautiful Victim: http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-victims/

I refuse to so much as mention the killer's name, his story, nor post links to the investigation here. If you feel compelled to investigate further, it's all over the internet.

We will return to our regular blog next Wednesday