NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) 鈥 It was an emotional graduation ceremony for high school seniors in Newtown, Connecticut, who observed a moment of silence for their 20 classmates who were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Principal Kimberly Longobucco read the names of the first graders who were killed on Dec. 14, 2012 along with six educators as the class of 2024 and their families looked on Wednesday,
鈥淲e remember them for their bravery, their kindness and their spirit,鈥 Longobucco said. "Let us strive to honor them today and every day.鈥
Newtown Schools Superintendent Chris Melillo told the 335 graduates, 鈥淟ife is too short to do something that doesn鈥檛 ignite your soul 鈥 something that doesn鈥檛 fill you with purpose and meaning. Never settle for anything less than what sets your heart afire.鈥
About 60 of the Newtown High graduates attended Sandy Hook Elementary School and are survivors of one of the in U.S. history.
Wednesday's graduation ceremony was closed to the media except for two local news organizations.
Sandy Hook survivors who in advance of their graduation said their fallen classmates were in their thoughts.
鈥淚 am definitely going be feeling a lot of mixed emotions,鈥 said Emma Ehrens, 17. 鈥淚鈥檓 super excited to be, like, done with high school and moving on to the next chapter of my life. But I鈥檓 also so ... mournful, I guess, to have to be walking across that stage alone. 鈥 I like to think that they鈥檒l be there with us and walking across that stage with us.鈥
Some Sandy Hook survivors have spoken of their community as a 鈥渂ubble鈥 protecting them from the outside world.
Class salutatorian Grace Chiriatti said during the ceremony that part of her wishes that things could stay the same because of the 鈥渓evel of comfort we have鈥 as graduating seniors.
鈥淓verything seems so perfect surrounded by people I love鈥 it鈥檚 difficult to leave just as I have everything figured out,鈥 Chiriatti said. 鈥淏ut by starting something new we don鈥檛 have to start over.鈥
