E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
/
A nation mourns after the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history at Sandy Hook Elementary, which left 20 children and six staff members dead.
One of Newtown’s heroic teachers – remembered as a bright light on the darkest of days – was laid to rest Wednesday, with family friend Paul Simon performing the folk song “Sound of Silence.”
Obtained by NBC News
Victoria Soto, 27, first-grade teacher at Sandy Hook elementary. Soto had taught for five years and was known by students as silly and loving.
Mourners who arrived at a church in Stratford, Conn., for Victoria Soto’s funeral were handed ribbons of green, her favorite color.
They spoke of the 27-year-old’s selfless final act: She died trying to protect her first-grade students at Sandy Hook Elementary School from rifle fire during the massacre, according to her family.
“Truthfully, you have been a hero to me for a lot longer than five days,” said her sister, Jillian Soto, according to the Stamford Advocate. "You've been my big sister. The one I always looked up to."
Another sister, Carlee, sobbed as she spoke. "The pain is unbelievable," she said.
Outside, family friend Ryan Ortiz, 27, said he couldn’t help thinking if he would have been as courageous as Soto.
“Mind-boggling what she had to go through,” Ortiz said. “No matter how many times I sit at home and think of what I would have done, you just can't imagine being in that situation.
“In my opinion, she was that light amidst the darkness that was going on that day in that school,” Ortiz said. “There's really no other way to remember her than being that light in that room."
Simon was asked by the Soto family to perform at the service; his sister-in-law, a nurse, is close to Soto’s mother, also a nurse. He came and left without comment.
Soto, who was in her fifth year of teaching, was finishing up her daily morning meeting with the students of Classroom 10 when gunman Adam Lanza began his rampage Friday morning.
NBCLatino: Soto remembered as a hero and a giving soul
Relatives say they were told she hurried the kids she called her "angels" into a closet behind her and tried to shield them from the bullets.
Some of the children in her class managed to survive the slaughter. Many did not.
Funerals were held Wednesday for first-graders Charlotte Bacon, Caroline Previdi and Daniel Barden, and a wake was held for 7-year-old Chase Kowalski – continuing a week of mourning.
A large contingent of firefighters arrived for 7-year-old Daniel’s funeral at St. Rome of Lima church in Newtown, where the strains of bagpipes filled the air.
Two of his relatives are members of the New York City Fire Department, and he dreamed of wearing a uniform when he grew up, according to a Facebook post from a firefighters’ foundation.
"It was one of the hardest funerals I was ever at,” FDNY Lt. Eric Torres told NBCNewYork.com.
#26acts: Neb. woman gives a dollar at a time
Family friend Laura Stamberg, of New Paltz, N.Y., said that on the day of the shooting, Daniel’s father Mark spent precious moments with him, teaching him a Christmas song on the piano.
"They played foosball and then he taught him the song and then he walked him to the bus and that was their last morning together," Stamberg told the Associated Press.
At a funeral where mourners wore buttons with her picture, 6-year-old redhead Charlotte was recalled as a ball of energy who loved the color pink and wanted to be a veterinarian. Caroline was “just a doll,” was just a doll," family friend Pam Fehrs said. "She was happy – dancing and happy everywhere she went."
Later on Wednesday, hundreds attended a wake in Woodbury, Conn., for Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung, 47, who also has been hailed as a hero for running toward the sound of gunfire after Lanza blasted his way into the school.
Family: Boy's favorite teacher died cradling him
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman came to pay their respects at Munson Lovetere Funeral Home, where candles in paper bags, arranged to spell HOPE, were laid out on the front lawn.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan also attended. Earlier in the day, he said Hochsprung and five other staffers killed at Sandy Hook “made the ultimate sacrifice, literally laying down their lives to protect the children they taught and cared for.”
“If it was not for the quick and courageous response of other teachers and staff, even more children and adults might have died,” he said.
Some of the services have been marked not just by tears, but by calls for tougher gun laws. Miguel Padilla, who works with Soto’s father, said he hoped the unity shown in the wake of the tragedy would translate into legislative action.
“With assault rifles, there is no need for those,” he said outside the church. “If you need to protect yourself, a handgun is good enough. That a 20-year old can get his hands on [an assault rifle] is pathetic.
“Something big has to come out of this,” he added. “They have to change the law.”
NBC News' Courtney Hazlett contributed to this report.
As funerals are held for four more Sandy Hook Elementary victims, President Obama will announce that Vice President Biden will spearhead a panel to formulate gun policies in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy. NBC's Craig Melvin reports.
Related content:
Victims in shooting: Daring principal, fun-loving teacher, 6-year-old twin brother
'If you do good, you'll feel good': Origins of #26Acts of Kindness
Slideshow: Newtown school massacre
Family: Boy's favorite teacher died cradling him
For teachers, classroom security concerns come to the fore
Leave a Comment:
I'm sorry folks but I'm looking at this thing a completely different way. This is ridiculous. It's beyond horrible and it's going to keep happening. However, the worst thing about it is, we're supposed to be so smart, so advanced, so wise. We know so much today, we're so refined. Yet, people continue to extract some of the most horrific crimes on other people everyday and it's like we're blind to it, except when it's a mass event like this one. So, why can't we be smart enough to look back to a time when this stuff was unheard of. A time when a husband and wife stayed married for a lifetime and raised their children together. A time when a child got spanked when they disobeyed. A time when respect and obedience was demanded from a child, not an option. I could go on and on. Granted, not everyone is hard headed, refusing to do things the way they should be done. However, the majority of our current society is, and their children are the ones growing up to become the undoing of what our fore-parents worked so hard to achieve.
I agree with Buttermilk Pancakes....our current society has no real core family values anymore. Not necessarily a solution for everything wrong but it certainly couldn't hurt! I now it sounds cliche, but if I had acted as a child as people do today, no respect or compassion for others, I would have been in so much trouble and yes probably would have been spanked. My heart is broken for the babies and brave teachers who were taken in such a violent and horrific way and for all the people of Newtown... God Bless you all.
Gun free zones mean hey bad guy, come on in and harm as many people as you can because 911 responders with take about 5-15 minutes and the law will not allow law abiding citizens to have a gun on this property. Thanks gun-control law you just allowed this beautiful defenseless woman to die.
Yeah, we should arm the kids and see how that goes. You're a @!$%#ing retard.
We have Air Marshals don't we...by the way thanks for the name calling since you cannot dispute the facts.
I don't see any facts there. Just ramblings of an insane person who probably will be the next one to go on a mass shooting. I pray for your victims. Please seek help.
Stupid is as stupid does Trancy boy. Yeah no facts, 911 response at Sandy Hook 5 minutes, it is a gun free zone, the beautiful teacher was a law abiding citizen, all adults on the property were unarmed, there is a free free zone law, and we have Air Marshals.
"Thous shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
The words of God!!!
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, with all thy soul and with all thy might" -The Father
"If you love Me, keep My commandments" -The Son
Lest we forget.
After a few weeks or months the media and the politicians will move on to other things. The public has a short memory. This horrible occurrence will be buried under the next shocking occurrence that the media can sensationalize to "keep the news leadership" The politicians will breath a sigh of relief as the matter moves further down the calender and they can avoid having to make serious efforts to change laws against claims they are subverting the 2nd amendment.
We should never forget, they were our children, our friends, our neighbors, and we shoud never forget. Don't let your politicans and your media outlets forget either, but Most of all, don't let the gun lobby forget.
Reading these stories everyday is just so sad. These poor kids and teachers that lost their lives is just so devistating. What kind of monster was this guy? I ask myself over and over again, what possesses someone to do something like this? I just hope that these families can come together and get through this horiffic time in their lives. God Bless all of the children, teachers and their families. RIP!
Her dog is still waiting for her:( Other than that I am totally speechless.
John, me too, I feel as if they were my kids and my daughters and my sisters too. This is what all Americans should do and feel like I think. God bless them and you
My husband wrote a beautiful poem the day of the Oklahoma City bombing that is good for any situation where children die. This just about says it all. Here it is:
A LETTER FROM HEAVEN
by Gary Horton
Dear Mom and Dad:
Today is the day that was meant to be,
Today is the day that was chosen for me.
I remember the touch of you and Dad,
The many hours and days and all the good times we had.
I remember when you'd wash my face and wipe my tears,
When I'd stumble and fall for the first few years.
I know your heart is troubled and the pain you have is great,
But you have to pull together and have a lot of faith.
Well, I'm here in my new home and it's so pretty,too.
I'm so busy up here 'cause there is so much to do.
There's no trouble, no sorrow or pain up here,
Like down on Earth and some you would fear.
Our lives were taken at a very young age,
By those who don't care and have a lot of rage.
So, lift up your spirits 'cause you must carry on,
For those who were hurt, lost and don't have a home.
Well, I must go now 'cause I have a lot to do,
You see, I help care for those other kids that up here,too.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Wow Marylin, WOW. can't speak
RIP Victoria... the true definition of a hero is a person who puts themselves in harms way for the sake of another, and you truly did that. Be with God.
How do the family know she died trying to save the kids...you people are so quick to try to make someone a hero that you embelish the truth. The truth is she probably died trying to save herself just like everyone else. It find to hope or wish she was a hero, but in the real world when someone is spraying that much fire power....they MOST LIKELY are running for there lifes.
This morning, I went by my son’s grave to check on his Christmas tree (with lights) I bought him. This is his Christmas gift from me. He was 17 when he died in a car accident. As I stood there, I could not help but think of those lives lost in CT. My heart ached for the families, knowing the utter despair they will feel months and years from now. This is a tragedy and is about these innocent lives cut short. This is not about gun control, whether you are for or against it. As a mother who has lost a son, I would be just plain royally pissed off that people, who have no idea what it is like to lose a child, make MY son’s death about anything political or to further their own selfish agenda. While you debate your “freedom of speech” about your thoughts on guns (to have or have not), there are parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents burying their loved ones. They are grieving. They go home and see the present under the tree, carefully wrapped with love that will not be opened. There will be no giggles of children on Christmas morning. A husband will not be able to see the look of love in his wife’s eyes when she opens the gift he chose just for her. Every Christmas from now on, the only present these left behind will be able to get for their loved ones are flowers, a wreath, a Christmas tree. Every Christmas is a reminder, and I cannot even begin to tell you the abyss and pain they are and will feel. I doubt very seriously that they give a flying fig about your views on guns. So to those spouting their right to own a gun, or their reasoning behind getting rid of them . . . STOP IT!!!! Put your own personal agenda aside for a while, and hurt with these people. Love them. Pray for them. Be there for THEM. This is not the time nor place. Give them time to grieve and to begin to heal. And do not dare try to justify your “right” to me. Not now.
God Bless you. I agree, leave the political agenda out of a tragedy that will forever be in their minds. I cannot even think of knowing what it has to be like being in yours or their shoes. I cannot imagine the pain you have. I can only thank you for being you.again may God bless you and those families
Another hero lost to this dark world...
Grieving aside for these kids who were taken from us...
I'm no fan of assault weapons... and it does not take an genius to know that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" was not intended for assault weapons... but... a gun does require an outside factor to aim and discharge it. Take away the gun, and the next killer out there WILL find another way to do the same thing.
Keep in mind we have women that drive on sidewalks, potentially lethal, and maniacs that will blow up school class rooms, per "New York Times, May 19, 1927", that killed almost twice as many people as this, in protest of higher taxes.
We had the Ft Hood shooting... labelled as workplace violence ... where enlisted people, who are trained to carry weapons and obey laws, and are not allowed to carry guns, were gunned down. When I hear about these shootings in the media, this one is left out (agenda bias).
I WISH the problem we face were as easy as "lets ban the guns; that'll fix it". Not so, folks. Evil finds a way, gun or no gun.
Why is it that our elected officals feel they are worthy of an armed detail to protect them, but will not allow our children an armed guard to protect them? I'd trade all of our elected officals to have those kids back.
How can the family say she died trying to protect the kids...where they there ...NO. Althought it was a sad event, you people are so quick to have label someone a hero. In the real world with all that fire power she probably ran for her life like most of us would have... and do think for a minute you wouldn't have tried to get the hell out of there
You are a sick idiot, you know what forensics is you moron?????? where a person lies is what tells the story of what events unfolded, and by the way there were some of her children that did survive that spoke to authorities.
You should really check up on your facts you fool. how dare you come on this blog with that crap.
She would of been a greater hero... if she would of been carrying a firearm/tasergun/shotgun w/bean bag to eliminate the THREAT!!! Guns aren't the problem... making sure law biding citizens own one w/a permit to carry... for such situations
WHY DON'T YOU STOP VIOLENT GAMES.. TOO ANY CHILDREN UNDER 18... thats the problem. NOT GUNS, u allow children to access to games that influence there mind w/killing is the way to release stress. Stop trying to band guns... everything and anything can be a weapon. We should just walk around w/hand...
Your priorities are screwed up. Violent video games weren't the problem here. He played @!$%# like WoW. The problem was his mother, a gun nut, who not only gave him free access to her guns, but also started getting him into shooting.
Just when I thought I had no more tears....I received this from a co-worker.... HAD TO SHARE!!!!
Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38,
When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's
house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only
heaven can bring
Those children all flew into the arms of their King.
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL
THE LIGHT."
God bless you Miss. Soto. You are with "YOUR KIDS" now. You are a TRUE hero. RIP!
To All Gun Nuts! If your assult rifles had not been manufactured then this would have been as horrorible. Yeah, we've all heard million upon millions of times abot people kill people BS you keep sproting mechanically, but the means is equally impostrant. We've heard to you lame example from Chine about some dude with a knife, to that I say BS as well... courages and dedicated teachers would have wrestled a guy with a knife to the ground. Assult rifles which that non-learned stupid Justice A. Scalia and your NRA and your their moronic supports caused this to happen. We also need stricter punishment and civil penalities against those who committ these acts and the weapons outlets, munnitions manufactures and weapons manufactures... yes, even if they manufactured 50 years ago: I suggest a minimum of 30-years in prison in solitary confinement and civil penalities of $500,000. per person and I would have them rectro active to this incident.Let "Market Forces" then handle the problem cause the way its been going, 95% couldn't afford your weapons of mass destruction.
you couldnt have sounded more idiotic if you wanted to, so I guess you think that that "thing" that did this should be in Jail??? oh sorry he died didn't he? so your jail crap is sensless for a wack case who wants to kill, no matter what the weapon of choice is if somone wants to kill they will do it with any kind of weapon, so stop you finger pointing and point it to the moron that didn't lock the guns up and the ones who knew he was a wack case but never told authorities.... sound familiar????
The gun man that killed the little girl at Gaby Giffords meeting was a known wako, and the gunman in arorua was as well. So blame those who see things and ignore them.
With this young teacher trying to protect her students with her own life, I am sure that the Lord opened His arms that day and welcomed Victoria into the Kingdom saying "Well done good and faithful servant! Now, enter into the home of My Father". She is with her students even now and for all time. The Bible tells us, "Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13. While family, friends and the nation grieve over this terrible loss, (and, it is terrible... God never intends for someone to use their free will like this), Victoria is happy forever more.
I'm a Viet-Nam era Infantry Vet, I grew up and live on a rough reservation in South Dakota. I'm not so sure I would have the bravery to act as this young woman did. RIP Ms Soto
@BmoreBabe. I agree. I've had my moments all week regarding this. But I received that poem and I just lost it. My co-workers thought I was nuts. I printed it and posted it on the wall in our office. Everyone who read it teared up. Now, this is the kicker. Everyone in the office (trailer) are guys. Construction workers. This broke down the toughest guys I know. So yes, very powerful poem!!
It is the ultimate hypocrisy that Republicans can find an unfettered right for everyone to own a gun in the Constitution, but NOT find an unfettered right for everyone to vote!
It is also a hypocrisy that Democrats can find an unfettered right to verify background checks and demand identification to simply buy a gun, and yet cannot accept the fact an identification should be required to vote or even to be allowed into this country.
Imagine the good this person could have done if CONGRESS had legislated the mandatory implementation of a national policy at making sure weapons of INCAPACITATION were required at every school, theater, auditorium, or any place were people congregate and that mass murderers can take advantage of.
This is what should be in every school (at least three of them with personnel trained to use them):
http://news.cnet.com/A-Taser-shotgun-for-long-range-electrifying/2100-1008_3-6039508.html
If stolen--they could not be used themselves to cause more harm since they are only good for a few hots and DO NOT KILL--only incapacitate.
The police use them all the time (the short ranged wired kind). Some Airline un-marked guards required by the law use them.
Why not make it a law -- it's not that expensive-- that every theater complex, every school, every auditorium, every church-- must have at least two of them with 24/7 personnel present who know how to use them?
Putting guns into the hands of teachers or theater complex employees isn't going to help much if those weapons fall into the wrong hands--just look at what happened when a gun nut--the mother of the killer--had her weapons stolen! They were used to kill 20 kids and 6 teachers!
Why not spend a few billions on making a mandatory law that every place of congregation--including schools, churches, theaters, etc all must have two or three of these devices to hopefully prevent a worse tragedy?
Why not do the right thing Obama and strongly consider this as a good method of stopping the nut cases before they kill more than just a few.
There is a good chance this Principal had she been trained with these shotgun TASER's could have fired at the nut case instead of lunging at him and dying as well. Then maybe we would be hearing about her heroics from her live instead of from her grave.
No disrespect intended. But putting th right tools into the hands of trained personnel--just like the police which use short range TASER's so effectively (and abusively) it could do wonders at stopping the bad guys intent on doing mass carnages.
IN the same light we use tools to prevent death--defibrillators, etc. Why not use these tools to prevent mass carnages?
Aurora, gun-free zone, Sandy Hook gun free zone, Columbine gun-free zone, Virginia Tech gun free zone, Oregon Mall gun free zone, Wisconsin Sikh Temple gun free zone.
Gun free zones mean hey bad guy, come on in and harm as many people as you can because it will take 911 responders about 5-15 minutes and the law will not allow law abiding citizens to have a gun on this property.
God bless this teacher and her bravery I am sure God has her in heaven for her actions.
Why
should the gun Rights of millions of GOOD TAX PAYING NON LAW BREAKING people be
limited or eliminated by the actions of a few???
Let’s
have tougher laws about gun violence... you rob with a gun you die, you commit
murder with a gun you die, your an illegal with a gun your deported, get
national ID cards that identify who is here and also must present them to
vote... NO CARD... NO VOTE... will it stop these random acts of violence...
NO... but nothing will... Stupid gun laws will just start a new illegal gun
trade up thru Mexico along with the pot and cocaine
The Democrats will never use my ideas since 1/3 their voting base will go back home