[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 26 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMARKS OF GOVERNOR DANNEL P. MALLOY AT THE INTERFAITH VIGIL FOR 
                FAMILIES OF SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2013

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of the 
lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I submit the remarks of 
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy, at the Interfaith Vigil for the 
families and community of Newtown, CT with the President of the United 
States.

       Pat, thank you for all of the great work that you have done 
     for this community in the last three days. To the police 
     chief and to the superintendent of schools, thank you for 
     your great service, as well. To all of the first responders, 
     thank you.
       When I came into the hall, one of the first songs to be 
     played on the piano was ``Amazing Grace,'' which is fitting 
     for any number of reasons. Its become an anthem for first 
     responders. It has great words. It also speaks of the power 
     of faith.
       ``Amazing Grace'' was written by a former sea captain 
     engaged in the slave trade. And those profound words that ``I 
     once was lost and now am found'' speak to us on a day like 
     today when we are called upon--dare I say required to be 
     invested in our faith.
       A faith so evident in this room and in this community at 
     this time. A faith that is, after all, at its very core a 
     gift from God. A faith in which we find comfort and hope and 
     compassion. A faith in which we are given the power to go on, 
     to survive that which has befallen this community, these 
     families, these spouses. That which has happened and is 
     unimaginable and unthinkable and was never, we thought, 
     intended to be upon us here in Connecticut, or in Newtown, or 
     in Sandy Hook.
       I choose to think about the fact that in the coming days we 
     will officially enter winter. And that is always to be 
     followed by the spring. Let me assure you that in winter, 
     each time I see the beginning of a snowfall, I will be 
     thinking of those 27 souls lost just a few days ago.
       Each time the day gets a little longer, I will think and 
     dream of the lives that might have been and the lives that 
     were so full of grace. And when the flowers start to come out 
     of the ground, and when they rise up, I will know that we are 
     in touch with those that we have lost in the last few days.
       We will go on, we will find strength. Faith is a gift, as 
     is our ability to support one another in our greater 
     community.
       To all of you, I extend my most profound condolences on 
     behalf of all of your fellow citizens for what you have seen, 
     for what you have witnessed and for what have you personally 
     experienced.
       We will move on, we will never forget, we will in many ways 
     be made stronger for what has transpired and we will get 
     better.
       We are blessed today to have with us the President of the 
     United States, who upon meeting with Pat and me just a little 
     while ago said that the most difficult day of his presidency 
     was Friday, when he heard the news of that which had befallen 
     this community. I assured him that Connecticut, Newtown and 
     Sandy Hook are strong, and I welcomed him on your behalf to 
     our community.
       I now introduce the President of the United States.

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