On December 14, as the world now knows, a gunman forcibly entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, inflicting tremendous loss of life and causing immeasurable harm to an entire community and nation in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.
In response to this tragedy, the National Association for Music Education has issued the following statement:
Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families and colleagues involved in the horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary, as well as to the entire community of Newtown, which has been so deeply impacted.
Schools should be a place of learning and laughing, but more than anything, a place to be safe. Tragedies like that which has befallen Sandy Hook lead to a terrible loss of innocence for the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society – our children.
There are no words that can offer comfort in a time like this, but it is important to take a moment to acknowledge the bravery of those who lost their lives while acting so valiantly to protect children in the face of unspeakable terror.
The National Association for Music Education is immeasurably grateful to all of the individuals who demonstrated such courage and composure during this enormous tragedy. We wish for peace and comfort for the families of those who have lost loved ones, and offer our deepest sympathies to all of the people of Newtown. We mourn with you all.
