Support for Sandy Hook

Updated: 12/20 – 4:00pm

The State of Connecticut suffered a horrible and tragic loss on Friday, December 14, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. It is hard to imagine that so many innocent lives were senselessly taken, but harder to fathom that 20 of those were young children. The American Legion, Department of Connecticut extends our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. In addition, our hearts and our prayers go out to the students, school staff, parents and all of those affected.

American Legion leadership in Sandy Hook has been contacted and we are awaiting more information to help us determine if any Legionnaires have been directly affected by this tragic event. To the best of our knowledge, none of the parents impacted are Legion members, however, we do not know if we have some grandparents or other extended family members who may belong to The American Legion or Legion Auxiliary. We believe some of the first responders are Legion members and we know this has impacted them deeply.

Past Department President Alice Saxton has a thoughtful plan of support that will be implemented this week before she and Past Department Commander Boyd leave for Florida on Saturday. (please see her note below). *Goal Reached!

The Department of Connecticut will support Jeff Craddoc (maker of our Military Bears), who is working on a plan to customize a bear for each of the surviving students at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He already has a commitment from his supplier to donate enough teddy bears. The donations will be to The American Legion. His goal is to have these ready for delivery before the end of this week.

The United Way of Western Connecticut in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank has created the ‘Sandy Hook School Support Fund’ that will be able to provide support services to the families and community that has been affected.

Check donations may be mailed to:

Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
Main Street, Newtown CT 06470

Or may be dropped off at any Newtown Savings Bank branch location

Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the community during this trying time.

Message from Newtown American Legion Auxiliary:

Hello All,

I want to thank all of my Auxiliary sisters who have expressed their concern for those affected by the tragedy in my town. I have not heard from the town yet as to what can be done but after much prayer in asking for God’s guidance I think I have found the way I want to honor those lost. I want to present each family with a ”Chicken Soup For the Grieving Soul” book along with an Angel inscribed with their loved ones name. I believe this will help them heal and it is something they will always have. The cost of one book and one angel will run about $24. If a unit would like to donate the cost of one or two books and angels there will be an inscription in the book that I am still working on and it will be noted which unit donated the book and angel. I would also like to give two books each to the Sandy Hook Fire House, Newtown Police Department, Newtown Ambulance and the Southbury State Police barracks as they were the first responders and I feel this might be a comfort to them also.

I know all donations should go through Department but I am leaving for Florida for two weeks on the 22nd and would like to give them out before I leave so they have them now instead of three to four weeks from now. If you are willing to trust me, contact me if you or your unit wants to donate and I will make arrangements to pick up the funds. I will keep and present a full accounting to the Department and the DEC. We will need 35 books at $12 ($420) and 26 angels at $12 ($312) for a total of $732. If there is more money donated than needed for the books and Angels I can donate it to the fund being set up for the families on behalf of the Auxiliary. I will email Becky the inscription as soon as I have it completed. I can be contacted by email (removed) or my home phone (removed). Once again thank you for all your prayers and concerns, Sandy Hook has suffered a terrible loss and has been bent, but will never be broken. God Bless.

Alice Saxton,

President Newtown 202

*Note: American Legion Auxiliary Unit 202 has met its goal! Thank you everyone who helped. UPDATE BELOW

I want to thank all my Legion family who have called expressing their concerns and asking what they can do to help those affected by this senseless tragedy.  Today (Monday, 12/17), I visited our First Selectman’s office and was able to visit with the Chief of Police who had just come back from a funeral for one of the children.  I thanked him for a job well done and offered words of encouragement and prayers for continued strength.  I also spoke with the First Selectwoman’s Assistant and was told that they are being inundated with stuffed animals, toys, etc.  Donations to the fund that was set up for the families are coming in from all over the nation and beyond.  So after talking with Alice, we thought that if any posts want to make a contribution, it could be to the first responders of the all-volunteer Sandy Hook Fire Department who were first on the scene and continue to be there.  These men and women are all connected to the families they serve and many are Legion members.  I am sure that any money received, although not asked for, will be much appreciated and put to good use.  I hope you will join Post 202 in this worthwhile endeavor. 

Checks can be made out to The Sandy Hook Fire Department and sent to:

 

SANDY HOOK VOL. FIRE & RESCUE COMPANY

18-20 RIVERSIDE RD.

PO BOX 783

SANDY HOOK, CT.   06482

 

For God and Country,

Boyd Saxton, PDC

Alice Saxton, PDP

Newtown Post 202

Mailing Address Established For Families Of Victims
From “The Newtown Bee”
12/20/2012

Newtown Post Office has set up a special address for those who wish to send cards, notes or gifts to the families of the victims of the December 14, 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Cards and gifts should be mailed to For The Families Of Newtown, PO Box 3700, Newtown CT 06470.

Postmaster Cathy Zieff says that any mail received at that address will be forwarded to the Board of Education, along with any mail that has been sent addressed to Sandy Hook School.

“We spoke with the board this morning and they told us they have crews of people who are working on sorting all of that mail,” Ms Zeiff said Tuesday, December 18. “They will open outer envelopes only, to determine which family the contents should go to, and make sure each family receives the mail that is meant for them.”