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  • Approved for CNN

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    Posted January 8, 2013 by
    CorinneT
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    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    Newtown school shooting: Thoughts and tributes

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    Newtown Memorial; One Mom's Vision

    By CorinneT  |  Posted January 8, 2013  
     

    CNN PRODUCER NOTE     CorinneT told me, 'I believe that this memorial is incredibly important and meaningful to the fallen children, their heartbroken families, and our community and society at large. It's time to make big changes.' See the finished memorial here.
    - hhanks, CNN iReport producer

    I had a vision of a memorial standing in a field in honor and in memory of the 20 beautiful children killed in the Sandy Hook tragedy. After a day or two of locating donated lumber, paint, carpenter services, and a location to display the memorial the idea was becoming a reality. All happening the week before Christmas. As a mom of 3 young children myself, I was overcome with sadness the more I read about the details of the children; their names, their hair color, their favorite hobbies and foods and stuffed animals. I knew I had to channel all this emotion into something creative and tangible to honor these children and to help myself, and hopefully others, cope with this senseless tragedy. It all came together in the shape of 8 blue boy silhouettes, 12 pink girl silhouettes all with a big red heart on the front, and a big bright yellow peace sign. With the help of family, friends and community members, we installed the memorial 2 days before Christmas on a hillside where many passersby can stop and visit to put the victims and their families in our hearts and minds. For they deserve to be remembered and honored each and every day the world wakes up without them in it. After installing the memorial I read Anderson Cooper's interview with Grace McDonnell's parents. Lynn described how she discovered her daughter's message in the fogged up window on the first day without her. Grace drew a peace sign and a heart on the window the night before she died, her last vision of love and peace before she left this world. Let us all hear her message of love and peace and stand up in the name of Grace and the 19 other children and say let's do better for our children. No more senseless gun violence in our country. We hear you Grace. We see your vision, too. Please check out facebook.com/harrisburgisnewtown to see memorial photos and local news clips about this project.

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