Where Have All the Sandy Hook Memorials Gone? An Interview with Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra

“The memorials only came because of the deaths of 26 children and adults” said Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra.

Report by Paula Antolini
June 1, 2015 3:21PM EDT

patllodra0252bidencenterstage

Where Have All the Sandy Hook Memorials Gone? An Interview with Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra

“The memorials only came because of the deaths of 26 children and adults” said Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra.

Recently First Selectman Pat Llodra graciously met personally with Bethel Advocate to discuss what happened to all the memorial items left at various locations in Newtown, CT after the 2012 tragedy.

The world grieved after the devastating fatal mass shooting of 20 children and 6 adults by Adam Lanza, at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.  Lanza had also shot and killed his mother, earlier that same day at their Newtown home. Lanza killed himself last, when police were entering the school.  The crime is labeled the “second deadliest school shooting in the United States, behind only the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007” according to NBC News

BA1_0671municipalbldgmemorialshall

The worldwide reaction was strong and many people sent condolences to Newtown and also personally placed items in various meaningful locations in Sandy Hook and Newtown, CT, if the individuals lived close by.  People had come from across the country just to personally place flowers, candles or other sentiments, near the school.  Many individuals visited several times.

The evergreen trees, meant to be sold as Christmas trees by the Sandy Hook Fire Department, now became 26 memorial trees at the entrance of the school, on the corner of Riverside Road and Dickinson Drive, that were quickly filled with items from a vast number of individuals, many items made by hand, to honor those who had passed.

BA4_0853candycanes

The amount of memorials grew as days passed, and the sentiments were placed all around the town by people wanting to show their sympathy.  The groups of cards, letters, teddy bears and more, soon grew into piles, and more items came into the Newtown Municipal center daily by mail services.

Llodra  estimated the quantity of memorial items easily at a half million, she said, which includes items left by individuals at various locations in Sandy Hook and Newtown, CT, and also letters and packages delivered daily to the Newtown Municipal Building. “Beyond anyone’s capacity to understand,” said Llodra.

BA5_0854cardage11

Newtown Human Resources Director Carole Ross, also interviewed, organized the smooth transition of items to one of four intake areas, a Newtown warehouse, a storage building, a Board of Education building, and the Booth Library in Newtown. Items were also stored in the Newtown Municipal Building basement too, she said.  The memorial items were delivered by the truckload each day, said Ross.

Three major companies handled deliveries, said Llodra, Federal Express, UPS and the United States Post Office.  She said it was “overwhelming” and that they were “overloaded.”

Newtown received 650,000 stuffed animals, numerous bicycles and backpacks, and many other items.  Some were donated to the victims’ families in Newtown, but other items were donated to charitable organizations.  Selections of charities were made by victims’ families, Social Services, or items were sent to special charities for children, Llodra said.

Neither Llodra nor Ross could choose just one memorial item that stood out to them, because all the memorials were unique, they said.  “A scrap of paper from a 6-year-old” or “12 cents from a youngster from his lunch” said Ross.  Llodra added, “Magnificent works of art from craftsmen, a lot of thought and heart.”

Llodra indicated that through the labor-intensive sorting of memorials, it was important to separate “the practical abilities from the emotional task.”

BA6_E2_0673embroideredyellowwhitequilt

The date of the removal of the memorial items from where people had placed them in Sandy Hook and Newtown, was dictated by several factors.  Llodra said they had two weeks of rain, snow and wind that initially destroyed items with a short viability such as books and cards. She said, “The items looked disheveled and no longer had a sense of beauty and honor.”  They had even tried to add tents over items, said Llodra.

There were other physical and emotional factors to consider too. Llodra said, “For two weeks the towns were impacted by people from other towns coming to visit which produced an emotional impact on the community.”  There were also “traffic bottlenecks” and “it became harder for people to move around town without the physical remembrance of the tragedy” she said, referring to 500 school children, administrators and first responders, as an example. “We were hearing more and more about the safety of children and the emotional welfare.”

For items that could be saved, everything was documented and archived and the memorials are now with a company called “Iron Montain,” stored in temperature-controlled facilities, Llodra said.  Iron Mountain is a records management company that has numerous locations around the world.  These records are stored Windsor CT 06095, Llodra said, which is located at 1100 Kennedy Road.

Memorial items were sorted via the local Newtown Booth Library and also the State of Connecticut Librarian, Llodra said.  Kendall F. Wiggin is listed as the CT State Librarian, who was appointed State Librarian in October 1998 becoming the 10th State Librarian in the 150 year history of the Connecticut State Library.

BA2_E12_0737quiltsonwall

As for items that were not able to be saved due to not being weatherproof, those were made into “sacred soil” which is now stored at the Newtown Transfer Station, Llodra said.

Some of the memorials were on display in the Newtown Municipal Building after they were removed from the locations around town.  Llodra and Ross said the display took two weeks to set up.  Victims’ families were given a choice of any memorials they chose to keep. “Victims’ families are our first thought always,” said Llodra.

As for plans for a permanent memorial, there is a committee of 10 individuals discussing this matter for the last 18 months, Llodra said.  Discussions will determine if there should be a memorial, and if so, where it should be located and what kind of memorial it should be, Llodra said.  “The town recognizes that we made the commitment that we will honor the acts of kindness, by recognition, which carries out the kindness,” Llodra said.

BA3_0850philadelphiacard

It is still an ongoing process because they are still receiving items from all over the world, Llodra said.  They continue to store items.

When asked what advice she would have for other administrators who might encounter a similar situation of this type of tragedy, Llodra said, “No community could be prepared for an event of this magnitude.”  She said communication is important and to engage as many people as possible, and have structure and teams. “Always honor the event,” she said. Recovery requires much, she said, “Stand on the balcony and look at all the moving parts and see what needs to be done.”  She believes in mutual aid, and said, “No one does it alone.”

*****

IRON MOUNTAIN

Windsor
1100 Kennedy Road
Windsor CT 06095
Watertown
200 Commercial Street
Watertown, CT, 06795
800-899-4766
VISIT THE SITE
Stamford
6 Landmark Square Office 465
Stamford, CT, 06901
800-899-4766
VISIT THE SITE
New Britain
One Hartford Square
New Britain, CT, 06052
800-899-4766
 
 
 
 
 

114 Comments

  1. I simply want to mention I’m all new to blogging and honestly savored you’re blog. Likely I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You definitely come with fabulous stories. Thanks for sharing with us your web site.

  2. Oh my goodness! AmazingIncredibleAwesomeImpressive article dude! Thank youThanksMany thanksThank you so much, However I am experiencingencounteringgoing throughhaving issues withdifficulties withproblems withtroubles with your RSS. I don’t knowunderstand whythe reason why I am unable toI can’tI cannot subscribe tojoin it. Is there anyone elseanybody elseanybody gettinghaving identicalthe samesimilar RSS problemsissues? Anyone whoAnybody whoAnyone that knows the solutionthe answer will youcan you kindly respond? ThanxThanks!!

  3. I haven¡¦t checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I¡¦ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  4. Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept

  5. Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually frustrating. A good web site with interesting content, that is what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.

  6. naturally like your website however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to inform the reality then again I¡¦ll certainly come again again.

  7. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.

  8. Magnificent web site. A lot of useful information here. I¡¦m sending it to some buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks in your sweat!

  9. Whats Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its helped me. Good job.

  10. Hello very nice blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also¡KI’m glad to find a lot of helpful information here within the submit, we’d like develop extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  11. I discovered your blog site website on the internet and check a number of your early posts. Preserve in the very good operate. I simply additional increase Feed to my MSN News Reader. Looking for toward reading a lot more by you at a later date!…

  12. My wife and i ended up being quite comfortable that Louis managed to do his research from the precious recommendations he made while using the blog. It is now and again perplexing to simply happen to be offering helpful hints that many men and women could have been trying to sell. And now we fully understand we have the writer to give thanks to for this. The main explanations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the relationships your site give support to instill – it is mostly powerful, and it’s facilitating our son and our family consider that the subject is awesome, and that’s rather mandatory. Thank you for everything!

  13. Hiya very cool web site!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally¡KI’m glad to find numerous useful info right here in the post, we need develop extra techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  14. Great weblog right here! Also your web site quite a bit up very fast! What host are you the usage of? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink to your host? I want my site loaded up as fast as yours lol

  15. I was just looking for this info for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative websites in top of the list. Normally the top web sites are full of garbage.

  16. I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thank you, I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?

  17. I simply wished to thank you very much all over again. I am not sure what I would have carried out without these pointers contributed by you regarding that problem. It had become a real traumatic situation for me personally, however , witnessing your well-written technique you handled that made me to cry with contentment. Now i am grateful for your information and thus sincerely hope you realize what a great job you were accomplishing instructing the rest thru your blog. Most likely you have never got to know any of us.

  18. I simply had to thank you very much yet again. I’m not certain the things I would have carried out without those hints shared by you on that concern. Completely was a very frightful difficulty in my circumstances, nevertheless witnessing the specialised technique you resolved it made me to jump for contentment. I’m just happy for your assistance and pray you comprehend what an amazing job you happen to be accomplishing teaching the others using your web site. I know that you haven’t encountered all of us.

  19. Simply wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity in your post is simply spectacular and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable work.

  20. Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people think about worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  21. I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I¡¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site 🙂

  22. Valuable info. Fortunate me I found your website accidentally, and I’m surprised why this accident did not took place in advance! I bookmarked it.

  23. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such wonderful info being shared freely out there.

  24. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!

  25. I haven¡¦t checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  26. I am now not certain the place you are getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. Thanks for great info I was looking for this info for my mission.

  27. Good ¡V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task..

  28. whoah this weblog is excellent i love reading your posts. Stay up the great paintings! You understand, a lot of people are looking around for this info, you can aid them greatly.

  29. What i do not realize is in reality how you’re not actually much more smartly-favored than you might be right now. You’re very intelligent. You already know thus considerably in terms of this subject, made me for my part believe it from numerous various angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested unless it is something to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. All the time maintain it up!

  30. Whats Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & help different users like its aided me. Good job.

  31. Whats Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & assist different users like its aided me. Great job.

  32. Good article and right to the point. I don’t know if this is really the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to hire some professional writers? Thank you 🙂

  33. Wow, superb weblog structure! How lengthy have you been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The total glance of your website is great, as well as the content!

  34. Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, as well as the content!

  35. What i don’t realize is actually how you’re no longer actually a lot more neatly-favored than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You already know therefore significantly in terms of this topic, made me individually believe it from so many various angles. Its like women and men are not involved except it¡¦s one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. All the time care for it up!

  36. I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I used to be looking for. You have ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

  37. Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Fantastic. I’m also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.

  38. Hiya there, just turned aware about your post through yahoo, and have found that it’s seriously informational. I’ll be grateful for in the event you retain such.

  39. I simply desired to thank you very much all over again. I do not know what I would’ve created in the absence of the entire recommendations documented by you over such a industry. Certainly was a horrifying case in my circumstances, nevertheless coming across the expert way you solved that made me to cry for delight. I’m just grateful for this support and even have high hopes you know what a great job that you’re providing training many others with the aid of your webpage. I know that you’ve never got to know any of us.

  40. I’m writing to make you understand what a brilliant discovery my wife’s child found reading through your blog. She realized several things, which include what it’s like to possess an incredible coaching character to have others without difficulty understand a number of complicated topics. You actually surpassed readers’ expectations. I appreciate you for showing these interesting, trustworthy, revealing and also easy thoughts on the topic to Tanya.

  41. Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually recognise what you are speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my site =). We can have a link trade arrangement between us!

  42. Wonderful work! That is the type of information that are meant to be shared across the net. Disgrace on Google for now not positioning this submit higher! Come on over and talk over with my site . Thanks =)

  43. whoah this blog is fantastic i really like reading your posts. Stay up the good paintings! You know, a lot of persons are searching around for this information, you can aid them greatly.

  44. It’s actually mostly impossible to come across well-informed americans on this theme, yet somehow you look like you are familiar with whatever you’re raving about! Excellent

  45. I think this is one of the most vital info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

  46. I¡¦ll right away snatch your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  47. Thanks so much for providing individuals with such a superb opportunity to read in detail from here. It really is very superb and stuffed with amusement for me personally and my office acquaintances to search your site at least three times a week to learn the fresh secrets you have got. Of course, I am also usually pleased with your astounding creative concepts served by you. Selected 3 tips in this posting are particularly the best we have all had.

  48. I think this is among the most vital info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

  49. I was just seeking this info for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your web site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative websites in top of the list. Generally the top websites are full of garbage.

  50. Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and come with almost all vital infos. I¡¦d like to peer extra posts like this .

  51. I simply could not depart your site before suggesting that I really loved the usual information an individual provide to your guests? Is going to be again continuously to investigate cross-check new posts

  52. Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site accidentally, and I’m stunned why this accident did not took place earlier! I bookmarked it.

  53. I needed to create you one little observation to help thank you as before over the fantastic advice you’ve contributed at this time. This has been certainly tremendously open-handed of you to make without restraint precisely what many individuals might have supplied as an e book to end up making some dough for themselves, especially now that you could have tried it in the event you wanted. Those points likewise acted to provide a good way to understand that most people have a similar zeal similar to mine to understand whole lot more with regards to this matter. Certainly there are numerous more fun periods ahead for individuals who start reading your website.

  54. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!

  55. I wish to point out my admiration for your generosity supporting visitors who have the need for help with this study. Your personal commitment to getting the solution up and down had been pretty significant and has continuously enabled professionals like me to arrive at their objectives. The insightful advice indicates a whole lot to me and far more to my office colleagues. Many thanks; from all of us.

  56. hey there and thank you for your information – I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this site, since I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again very soon..

  57. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.

  58. of course like your website but you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I¡¦ll surely come again again.

  59. A person necessarily help to make severely posts I might state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and up to now? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Great job!

  60. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  61. I not to mention my buddies happened to be reading through the excellent recommendations on your website and then before long I had a horrible feeling I had not thanked you for those techniques. Those young men ended up as a consequence warmed to read them and already have definitely been making the most of them. Many thanks for genuinely very helpful and then for opting for variety of perfect subject areas millions of individuals are really desperate to understand about. My very own sincere apologies for not expressing gratitude to sooner.

  62. Whats Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & assist other customers like its aided me. Good job.

  63. Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!

  64. I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The web site style is perfect, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

  65. of course like your web site but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the reality then again I¡¦ll definitely come back again.

  66. I want to point out my affection for your generosity for folks who require guidance on in this matter. Your real dedication to getting the solution all-around appears to be astonishingly valuable and have continuously made employees much like me to realize their endeavors. Your amazing insightful hints and tips can mean much a person like me and especially to my office colleagues. With thanks; from each one of us.

  67. Whats Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & assist other customers like its helped me. Good job.

  68. I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂

  69. Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept

  70. Great work! That is the kind of information that are meant to be shared across the net. Disgrace on Google for no longer positioning this post upper! Come on over and talk over with my web site . Thank you =)

  71. excellent points altogether, you simply won a emblem new reader. What could you suggest in regards to your post that you simply made some days ago? Any sure?

  72. Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  73. Wow, superb weblog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The entire glance of your web site is wonderful, as well as the content material!

  74. I was just looking for this information for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your website. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Usually the top sites are full of garbage.

  75. It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it!

  76. Whats Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & aid other customers like its aided me. Great job.

  77. My brother recommended I might like this website. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

  78. I think this is among the most important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The site style is perfect, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

  79. I am glad for commenting to let you be aware of of the superb discovery my friend’s child went through browsing your web page. She learned such a lot of things, most notably what it is like to have an incredible giving nature to make folks quite simply master selected grueling subject matter. You actually did more than our own expectations. Thanks for churning out such powerful, dependable, edifying and in addition easy tips about your topic to Julie.

  80. Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

  81. Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and net and this is actually frustrating. A good blog with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for keeping this website, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.

  82. Great remarkable things here. I am very glad to peer your article. Thanks a lot and i’m taking a look forward to touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?

  83. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  84. What i don’t understood is in fact how you’re no longer really a lot more well-liked than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly in relation to this topic, produced me for my part consider it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be interested except it¡¦s something to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. All the time maintain it up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.