Monday, December 17, 2012

Goodbye my 'twinkling blue eyes': Devastated mother makes emotional farewell to six-year-old son who was Sandy Hook's youngest victim as first little angels are laid to rest Jack Pinto, six, was laid to rest wearing his New York Giants jersey




Devastating loss: Jack Pinto (left) and Noah Pozner (right), both aged six, were laid to rest today following Friday's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut


Lost innocence: Students embrace today while wearing Newtown school shirts outside the funeral for six-year-old victim Jack Pinto who died on Friday in the Sandy Hook school shooting


Farewell, my son: Veronika Pozner makes her way across the grass at the B'nai Israel Cemetery in Monroe, Connecticut

The community were out in droves in Fairfield, Connecticut for the funeral service and then traveled with a police escort to nearby Monroe to lay the six-year-old to rest.

Noah was the youngest victim of the rampage and his twin sister Arielle escaped unhurt. The family's rabbi has said he encouraged Noah's mother to focus on her other four children amid the grief.
Hundreds of mourners clogged the narrow streets of Newtown today for another funeral, that of six-year-old Jack Pinto.

The little boy was described as an avid sports fan who loved wrestling and the New York Giants. Jack was buried wearing the jersey of his favorite player Victor Cruz.



Emotional: A young boy cries during the funeral for six-year-old Jack Pinto today




Saying goodbye: A little girl surrounded by adults as she attends the Honan Funeral Home in Newtown

Comfort: One small boy comforts another after they lost friends during the Sandy Hook school shooting

Giants' receiver Cruz played in Sunday's football game with the boy's name written all over his cleats and gloves, saying he was 'honored' to have been Jack's favorite.

Dozens of families who could not fit into the funeral home stood outside in the cold and rain, waiting to pay their respects. 


Irv Trager, whose son played football with Jack's brother, said the Pinto family is still in shock.


No words: A man comforts a boy outside Honan Funeral Home before the funeral of six-year-old Jack Pinto today which was attended by hundreds


'My little blue eyes': Veronika Pozner, right, arrives at a funeral service for her son Noah where she made a moving tribute to him


Saddened: A little girl clutches her soft toy as she leaves the funeral of Noah Pozner

'I just feel for the families, it's unfathomable what happened here,' he said.

Mark Kuligowski's daughter was so overcome by the emotion in the funeral home that she fainted during the service, resulting in an ambulance being called to the scene. 


Mr Kulgowski knew Jack's family through sports and said the six-year-old's mother is still far from coming to terms with her son's death. 


'She's very emotional. It's very difficult,' he added.


Suffering: Three women embrace as they arrive for the funeral services of six year-old Noah Pozner. the youngest victim of the shooting in Connecticut


United: Families embrace while surrounded by children wearing Newtown t-shirts as they attend Jack Pinto's funeral on Monday

Grief: A mourner walks into a funeral service for six-year-old Noah Pozner on Monday in Fairfield, Connecticut

People came from all over Connecticut and as far away as Georgia to pay their respects. Many did not know the little boys but were so moved by the horrific murders that they thought it was important to show support for the town and the grieving families.

'It's love. Sometimes you can't explain it. We just had to be here to show out support,' said Heidi Faust, who drove from Atlanta to Newtown. 

Overwhelmed: A young girl sobs during the funeral for Sandy Hook Elementary School student Jack Pinto

Picture of grief: A mourner leaves the funeral of Jack Pinto one of the 26 who died at Sandy Hook school

Holding them close: Those who gathered at the funerals of the two young boys today struggled to maintain their composure

Children wore Sandy Hook sweatshirts or jackets from the community's other schools as a show of solidarity for the grief-stricken community.

Most said they were still too shaken to speak about the tragedy as they attended the first two of 20 funerals of schoolchildren massacred in their classrooms.

Photography agencies confirmed to MailOnline that their presence was allowed provided they remained at a respectful distance.

All the child victims were six or seven years old. The school principal of Sandy Hook elementary, the school psychologist and four teachers were also gunned down.


Filing in: Young boys, many dressed in their Sandy Hook sweaters, enter the funeral of Jack Pinto who died in Friday's massacre


Community: Boys who also attended wrestling with Jack Pinto wear school sweatshirts to their friend's funeral today


Anguish: Mourners broke down as they left the funeral service of six-year-old Jack today

The rest of the nation anxiously sent children back to school on Monday amid tightened security. Within hours of the school day starting, lockdowns were declared in nearby Connecticut and New York towns. 


In New Jersey, one high school's morning announcements included an added warning not to let strangers into the building.

Newtown's schools remained closed on Monday, the first academic day since the 20-year-old gunman claimed 28 lives, including his mother's and his own.

The funerals come a day after President Obama visited Newtown to comfort the families. Obama's remarks were heralded on Monday morning by relatives of teacher Victoria Soto, 27, who was killed as she tried to protect her first-grade students.

'He really made us feel like she really was a hero and that everyone should know it,' her brother, Carlos Soto, told CBS.

At Sunday night's memorial, Obama offered words of hope and promises of action to stop future tragedies.

'We bear responsibility for every child ... This is our first task, caring for our children. It's our first job. If we don't get that right, we don't get anything right,' he said.


Support: Police officers comfort one another outside a funeral service for six-year-old Noah Pozner

Tribute: The shoe of New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz bears the words 'R.I.P. Jack Pinto' after he found out he was the young boy's favorite player

The President kept his emotions in tighter check than he did on Friday, when he cried openly while addressing the shooting. But tears ran freely among mourners in the packed high school auditorium, who wailed when he read the names of the adults and children killed.

Schools remained closed in Newtown as faculty members met to decide when they would open again. To keep children occupied on a drizzling Monday, youth sports groups set up an indoor field day with athletics, board games and arts and crafts. By early morning, more than 100 children joined in the activities.

The community will have to make a decision about what to do with the bullet-ridden, Sandy Hook Elementary School, whose students will for now attend classes in an empty school in a neighbouring town.


Veronique Pozner waves to the assembled media as she leaves after a funeral service for her 6-year-old son Noah Pozner


Comfort: Mourners weep as they gather outside the funeral home in Newtown as the first of the 20 children who died are laid to rest

Holding each other close: Mourners show their support each other after Newtown was hit with an unthinkable tragedy

Lets the mourners come: A sign showing the town seal and a black ribbon is posted on a front door in Newtown

'I think we have to go back into that building at some point. That's how you heal. It doesn't have to be immediately but I sure wouldn't want to give up on it,' said local resident Tim Northrop.

A more detailed picture of Adam Lanza's attack emerged on Sunday. After killing his mother, Nancy Lanza, at home, Adam Lanza shot his way into the school. He had attended Sandy Hook as a child, according to former classmates.

Police said Lanza was armed with hundreds of bullets in high-capacity magazines of about 30 rounds each for the Bushmaster AR 15 rifle and two handguns he carried into the school, and had a fourth weapon, a shotgun, in his car outside. He killed himself in the school.


Close: Members of the community hug each other for support after the first victims were buried today

Paying respects: Parents brought their children to the funeral home in Newtown where mourners queued in the rain to say goodbye

In Washington, a pro-gun lawmaker called on Congress and the gun industry to come together on a 'sensible, reasonable approach' to curbing high-powered, assault weapons like those used in Newtown.

'Never before have we seen our babies slaughtered. This never happened in America, that I can recall, ever seeing this kind of carnage,' said Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who has earned top marks from the gun industry. 'This has changed where we go from here.'
VIDEO Family and friends gather for the funeral of Noah Pozner 

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