CHICAGO - December 20, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today proclaimed a "Day of Mourning" in Illinois in honor of the 26 students and faculty that lost their lives in the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
WHEREAS, tragic incidents remind us to reflect upon what is truly important in life; and,
WHEREAS, on Friday, December 14, 2012 a gunman opened fire inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, tragically ending twenty-six lives; and,
WHEREAS, the families and loved ones of the victims, the wounded, the Town of Newtown and the State of Connecticut continue to suffer from the horrific acts of violence that occurred on that fateful day; and,
WHEREAS, these twenty innocent children and six dedicated educators will always be remembered:
Chase Kowalski
James Mattioli
Jack Pinto
Caroline Previdi
Avielle Richman
Benjamin Wheeler
Allison Wyatt
Rachel D`Avino
Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung
Anne Marie Murphy
Lauren Rousseau
Mary Sherlach
Victoria Soto
Charlotte Bacon
Olivia Engel
Dylan Hockley
Jesse Lewis
Ana Marquez-Greene
Grace McDonnell
Emilie Parker
Noah Pozner
Jessica Rekos
Daniel Barden
Josephine Gay
Madeleine Hsu
Catherine Hubbard
WHEREAS, the remarkable and selfless acts of heroism by Sandy Hook Elementary School staff and first responders undoubtedly saved many lives; and,
WHEREAS, the people of Illinois send their condolences to the people of Connecticut and grieve the unconscionable losses suffered by the families and loved ones of the fallen; and,
WHEREAS, in the event of this recent tragedy, the State of Illinois remains committed to promoting the values of peace, faith, and community, with the hope of ending all acts of violence; and,
THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim Friday, December 21, 2012 as a DAY OF MOURNING in Illinois in remembrance of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
I call upon citizens of our state to observe this day with a moment of silence at 8:30 a.m. (CST). I also ask, wherever possible, for public, private, faith-based and all other corporate or not-for-profit organizations, to join neighbors near and far in ringing bells twenty-six times in honor of each life lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
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