Tribute to Sandy Hook victims set to Obama’s words

 

By Stratford Star on December 14, 2015

 

Former Newtown resident Eleanor Miller composed a piece to pay tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook shootings on Dec. 14, 2012.  It uses text extracted and edited from remarks delivered by President Barack Obama at Newtown High School on Dec. 16, 2012.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy has directed U.S. and Connecticut flags to fly at half-staff on Monday, Dec. 14, from sunrise to sunset in honor of the 20 children and six adults who were killed three years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Soprano Carola Emrich-Fisher and pianist Paul Cienniwa performed “It’s Elementary” at First Church in Boston on Dec. 14, 2014.

‘It’s Elementary’

“Can we truly say as a nation that we meet our obligations? Can we
honestly say that we’re doing our best to keep our children safe from harm? Can we claim as a nation that we’re all together letting them know that they are loved and teaching them to love in return? Can we say that we’re doing enough to give all the children the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness?

If we’re honest with ourselves, the answer is no. We’re not doing enough and we will have to change. We can’t tolerate this any more. These tragedies must end. To end them we must change. There is no excuse for inaction. We can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, another town from this grief then surely we have an obligation to try.

Why are we here? What gives our lives meaning? What gives our acts purpose? Our time here is fleeting. There’s only one thing we can be sure of – that is the love we have for our children.

It’s elementary my dear world.”

(Barack Obama/emiller)

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