About 50 people gather in downtown Batavia Monday night to remember the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School, including 6-year-old Charlotte Bacon, the granddaughter of former St. Mark's members Dan and Lindie Bacon.
A group of Batavians packed a downtown street corner Monday night to remember those lost in the Newtown, CT, school shooting and to show support for change in gun control.
The residents stood on the southwest corner of South Batavia Avenue (Route 31) and Wilson Street, according to a Patch reader report. Residents held candles and signs with phrases like "Remember Newtown" so motorists passing through downtown could see them.
The vigil was scheduled to last one hour, starting at 7 p.m., according to an e-mail sent Jan. 10 by organizers Page and Carol McCloud.
"This Monday will mark one month since the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut," the e-mail said. "As time passes, it is important that discussion continues and focus be maintained so that solutions can be found. The Sandy Hook Elementary School story cannot be allowed to drift from the front page."
On Dec. 14, police said Newtown resident Adam Lanza fatally shot his mother, then broke into Sandy Hook Elementary and opened fire using semi-automatic weapons, killing six adults and 20 children. One of the children was 6-year-old Charlotte Bacon, the granddaughter of former Batavia residents Dan and Lindie Bacon.
The Bacons were active members of St. Mark's Church in Geneva.
Lanza, 20, also took his own life during the incident, according to police.
The Newtown tragedy made gun control a heavily-discussed topic and a top national priority for the Obama administration. A task force led by Vice President Joe Biden recently gave recommendations for President Obama to review.
"We will quietly demonstrate to the public that there is solid grassroots concern and support for positive action," the McClouds said in the e-mail.
