Sandy Hook Elementary – Sage Telling Your Story

April 1, 2015February 26, 2019

Teachers by Ricky

Tragedy brought them together,

United by a common desire to help those in need.

Their desire entwined with emotions strong and
yet tender.

They huddled around a table, while awaiting their
host,

Yet were confused why this meeting was necessary.

The host arrived and addressed each by name,

“Anne, Dawn, Lauren, Mary, Rachel, and Victoria;

I see you are all here so let us begin.

Do you all understand why you are here?”

“No!” said Dawn (the others joining in),

“We all have important work to do. People need us right now!

Sir, you must let us all go back to work—Please.”

With eyes radiating love and compassion the host
looked at those

Seated around the table before he spoke.

“I perceive that you do not understand.

We have a great need for you to remain here with
us.” he began.

“We need your skills, talents, abilities, and
creativity.

Your transfers are all complete,

And only your concerns need be
discussed.”

He continued, “You are no longer needed in your
other positions.

The people you wish to help are cared for by
others but,

Those who actually do need your help,

Also are here, specifically to be with you.”

“You see our schools need teachers,
administrators, staff,

And therapists too,

But only those who actually love whom they serve.

Not just anyone will do,”

The veil was lifted from their minds and
understanding,

They slowly rose from their seats, kneeled, and

Thanked their host who indicated a door,

Which they passed through into a classroom.

Vicki called roll as the students from Sandy Hook
Elementary

Arrived one-by-one.

In memory
of those innocents lost to senseless violence.

Charlotte Bacon, Daniel Barden, Rachel D’Avino
(adult), Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Dylan Hockley, Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung
(adult), Madeleine F. Hsu, Catherine V. Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Nancy Lanza
(adult), Jesse Lewis, Ana Marques-Greene, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Anne
Marie Murphy (adult), Emillie Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline
Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Lauren Rousseau (adult), Mary Sherlach
(Adult), Victoria Soto (Adult), Benjamin Wheeler, Allison N. Wyatt.

About the Author

I was born in June of 1948 in Los Angeles, living first in
Lawndale and then in Redondo Beach. Just
prior to turning 8 years old in 1956, I began living with my grandparents on
their farm in Isanti County, Minnesota for two years during which time my
parents divorced.

When united with my mother and stepfather two years later
in 1958, I lived first at Emerald Bay and then at South Lake Tahoe, California,
graduating from South Tahoe High School in 1966. After three tours of duty with the Air Force,
I moved to Denver, Colorado where I lived with my wife and four children until
her passing away from complications of breast cancer four days after the 9-11-2001
terrorist attack.

I came out as a gay man in the summer of 2010. I find writing these memories to be
therapeutic.

December 14, 2013February 26, 2019

Sandy Hook Elementary Victims (14 December 2012). Gone but Not Forgotten — by Ricky

I hope the following photographs forever haunt the dreams of our Congress’s heartless, soulless, and cowardly elected members who voted down (or blocked) the firearms background checks bill. May they never have another peaceful night of sleep!

In Memoriam of Sandy Hook Elementary Victims

(14 December 2012)

The Adults
Rachel D’Avino (Teacher’s Aid with her dog)

Dawn Hochsprung (Principal)

Nancy Lanza (Mother of the murderer)

Anne Marie Murphy (Teacher)

Lauren Rousseau (Teacher)

Mary Sherlach (School Psychologist)

Victoria “Vicki” Soto (Teacher)

The Children

Charlotte Bacon 6

Daniel Barden 7

Olivia Engel 6

Josephine Gay 7

Dylan Hockley 6

Madeleine F. Hsu 6

Catherine V. Hubbard 6

Chase Kowalski 6

Jesse Lewis 6

Grace McDonnell 7

Ana Marques-Greene 6

James Mattioli 6

Emillie Parker 6

Jack Pinto 6

Noah Pozner 6

Caroline Previdi 6

Jessica Rekos 6

Avielle Richman 6

Benjamin Wheeler 6

Photos obtained from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/dec/16/sandy-hook-shooting-victims-pictures#/ and other internet sources.

For a list of school shootings in the U.S. from 26 July 1764 through 13 December 2013 visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States

About the Author

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, CA

Ricky was born in 1948 in downtown Los Angeles. He lived first in Lawndale and then in Redondo Beach both suburbs of LA. Just days prior to turning 8 years old, he was sent to live with his grandparents on their farm in Isanti County, Minnesota for two years while (unknown to him) his parents obtained a divorce.

When reunited with his mother and new stepfather, he lived one summer at Emerald Bay and then at South Lake Tahoe, graduating from South Tahoe High School in 1966. After three tours of duty with the Air Force, he moved to Denver, Colorado where he lived with his wife of 27 years and their four children. His wife passed away from complications of breast cancer four days after 9-11.

He came out as a gay man in the summer of 2010. He says, “I find writing these memories to be very therapeutic.”

Ricky’s story blog is “TheTahoeBoy.blogspot.com”.

May 28, 2013February 26, 2019

Memorials by Ricky

In Memoriam of Sandy Hook Elementary Victims

(14 December 2012)

One of my early girlfriends narrowly missed being a casualty of the sniper at the University of Texas–Austin on 1 August 1966. Thus, I find the topic “In Memoriam” depressing when I think about it too long, or in too much detail (like trying to write this life memory story). Since 1981, my blocked negative emotions are returning and I am increasingly more sensitive and emotional over sad and tragic incidents and events. Undoubtedly, at some point while writing this, I will stop to regain composure and dry my eyes.

There are individual and personalized types of memorials. To honor our mother after she passed away, my brother grew the fingernail on his left little finger to a little over ¼ inch in length. He kept it that way right up to his passing in 2011. At his death, his twin sister installed a flagpole in her front yard and placed an engraved plaque on it to honor him. His ashes are on top of our mother’s grave and a Veterans Affairs plaque marks his location. I occasionally wear a violet wristband in remembrance of the slain Matthew Sheppard, a hate-crime victim.

The most horrific memorials to my mind and causes me a great deal of sobbing, are the ones dedicated to those senseless killings of innocents attending colleges and schools. Since that August 1966 sniper in Austin, the shootings at schools and colleges did not stop and governments did nothing effective to stop the violence. What is worse is the voting public did nothing to force legislators to act. Living in metro Denver, I clearly remember the Columbine shooting (20 April 1999) and I have been to the memorial.

Columbine Memorial – Never Forgotten

No government did anything productive to prevent future violence. Between the Columbine killings and the recent murders at Sandy Hook Elementary, there were 55 additional school shootings in the US (including three in Colorado: Bailey (Platte Canyon High School), Littleton (Deer Creek Middle School), and Aurora Central High School). Neither governments nor the people did anything effective. After the Sandy Hook shootings (as of 2 November 2013), there have been 18 more school shootings with 16 more fatalities and 21 more injured.¹ Perhaps governments and the populace will take effective action this time.

Why did it take the mass killings of 6 and 7-year olds to motivate Congress to try and solve the problem? Is Congress not concerned about the adult and teens that died at Columbine (or for that matter anywhere else since the 1970’s)? Do members of Congress place their highest level of concern, and highest priority, on staying in office and increasing their party’s political power over serving the nation? Do they even care about what is good for the people and nation? In my opinion, their inaction cheapens the value of the lives lost. [NOTE: On 17 April 2013, Republican and Democrat members of the U.S. Senate once again turned their collective backs on the safety of the citizens by “killing” a bill to close background check “loopholes” in firearms law.] Since inaction speaks louder than words, it appears they really don’t care about us or US.

I hope the following photographs forever haunt the dreams of our Congress’s heartless, soulless, and cowardly elected members who voted down (or blocked) the background checks bill. May they never have another peaceful night of sleep!

In Memoriam of Sandy Hook Elementary Victims

(14 December 2012)

The Adults
Rachel D’Avino (Teacher’s Aid with her dog)