Assignment 4- Jessica Sunnenberg

12-14-12. The day 20 children and 7 others lost their lives in a tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Here is a poem written about the event that still gives me chills to this day:

The Field Trip
"Please don't cry, we're okay.
We went on a field trip today.
A secret place where there's fun to be had.
And the principle's with us, so we won't be bad.
It's full of toys and rainbow slides.
Cotton candy and high cloud rides.
A funny zoo full of different things.
I even saw a man with wings.
We're not alone so don't you fear.
We're chaperoned by Jesus here.
It's really nice so I think I'll stay.
And hold your spot till your field trip day.
I know Christmas is here and there's toys to be given.
So please tell Santa that I'm in Heaven."

That morning, when the parents of those children were dropping them off for just another day of school, it probably never crossed their minds that it would be the last time they would ever see each other. The children were expecting to get to go home after school to their loving family and play outside in their neighborhoods and eat another home cooked meal and get tucked in and read bedtimes stories, but that became impossible due to the events that occurred that day. The picture above depicts a group of hysterical children being lead away from the schools by an even more hysterical adult, another devastated woman on the phone, and several images of people comforting each other. While these pictures were taken, police were out trying to catch the man that did this. The question I always ask in situations like this is how could someone do something like this. They were children. Elementary school children. They had barely even begun to live their lives. There were still so many lessons and so many things to learn. So many more hugs, kisses, losses, memories, etc. One man made that impossible for 27 people that day. It is heartbreaking to think that one person has the power to take 27 lives and an abundance of memories away from a person in such a short amount of time. It makes me wonder how many other people have thought about doing something like that and if they have truly thought about all of the repercussions and affects their actions will have.