Tears, candles at vigil for the Sandy Hook victims

KENT — It was a mix of great joy and profound sorrow on Saturday, Dec. 15, as the Kent Parade of Lights also became a candlelight vigil for the 20 children and seven adults killed at the Sandy Hook school in Newtown. Vigils were held in several area towns that same evening.Following the parade (photos and story, Page A8), Kent Volunteer Fire Department Chief Matt Starr lit 20 small candles and seven large ones, representing the lives lost at Sandy Hook.Small unlit candles had been distributed to everyone in the large crowd; adults and children filed up quietly to the 27 candles and lit their own small flames. Fire department President Alan Gawel thanked the fire company and all the volunteers who had organized the vigil so quickly. He offered a prayer for the Newtown first responders and said, “I pray that our first responders will never have to face such a tragedy.”He introduced the Rev. Melinda Keck, who offered a prayer to “the god of the broken hearted” and a prayer for “the children who saw too much, who heard too much, to children all over the world who live in fear each day.”First Selectman Bruce Adams then said, speaking not only as a town official but also as a father and a grandfather, “Give your kids lots and lots of hugs, today and every day.”Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums of Danbury played a moving bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”And then eyes were dried, hugs were shared and everyone stepped into the firehouse for cookies and warm drinks.

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