Dear Newtown,

How are you doing? I know that this week will be difficult. I hope that it is filled with as much happiness, joy, and laughter as possible. After all, tis’ the season, right?

I know a simple Christmas saying is not the answer, nor a way to avoid what is in front of us. This week will be another reminder of the distress, the suffering, and the misfortune that our community endured during Christmas time three years ago. Every year gets a little bit better, but there’s no way of pretending that it doesn’t come across our minds.

I really do hope you’re doing well. I know that the happiness and joy that accompanies Christmas time is stunted by the reminders of darker and gloomier times. I hope you are able to salvage what you can to have a happy, and safe holiday season.

Although I will not be in Newtown this week, my heart will be with you. I will be thinking of you all week, and the beautiful community that I get to call my closest friends.

I will never forget that day. What was supposed to be a Friday filled with happiness, and my first ever track meet that night, turned into one of the worst days of my life.

Never will I forget being in the cafeteria when I heard that the school would be going into lockdown across the loud speaker. Never will I forget hiding under a food preparation desk in the culinary room for two hours, knowing that down the street there was something going on that was making national news. Never will I forget the silence that filled the school once the lockdown had been lifted and everyone became aware of the tragic events that had just occurred a mile down the road.

Those days after the tragedy I’ll never forget, too. Going to church that night on Dec. 14 was the first time that I ever had to stand outside. Having to go to school that following Monday and attempt to get back to some sense of normalcy was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to do. Seeing hearses, cop cars outside of houses, and constant media coverage of places I’ve been around my whole life was even tougher.

In the weeks after the tragedy, I remember balloons started to pop up around town, honoring the birthdays of the little angels that lost their lives. The balloons were their favorite color, and birthday parties were thrown for them. It was a nice gesture, for something that had been so difficult to comprehend.

When I think back to these times, and rethink these thoughts, I cannot help but think how lucky I am to have been surrounded by such a strong, loving community as you, Newtown, Conn. The resilience of the community in times of tragedy has taught me so much and has made me become such a better person.

Thank you for everything you have done for me. You have been a part of my life for 15 years, and I am extremely grateful for the time I’ve spent in Newtown. I will never forget where I came from, and I will always be proud of being from Sandy Hook.

I have learned to love everyone. I’ve learned to love life. And, I’ve learned to choose love.

I’ve learned to never take anything for granted, because sadly, it all can be taken away in a second. I’ve learned to live life to the fullest, always with a smile on my face. I now understand the beauty and just how precious life in its basic form really is. I’ve grown tremendously as a person, and I owe everything to you. I love being from Newtown. I tell people that I would never have wanted to grow up any other place. I hope to live in Newtown the rest of my life, you’re that special to me.

Anyways, I hope this letter finds you well. I wish I could be with you next week, I really do. I know you’ll be just fine, though, strong as ever, just like you always are.

Love,

Stephen