'Public Servants Truly Stepped Up to the Call of Duty'

To the Editor:

In the days following the tragedy in Newtown, our community has reflected and acted to help those affected by this horrific act. In my nine months of elected public service, I have never been prouder than last night to cast a yes vote allowing Sandy Hook Elementary School to temporarily move to Chalk Hill. After all of the discussion about what to do with this building, what a fantastic purpose it now has. The amount of energy and perseverance that went into making this happen needs to be recognized.

A special and heart felt thank you to President Obama, Governor Malloy, Lt. Governor Wyman, Senator Blumenthal, Senator-elect Murphy as well as Reps. Himes, DeLauro, Larson, Courtney and Rep-elect Esty. Also, State Senator John McKinney, State Representative DebraLee Hovey, State Representative Christopher Lyddy, Newtown First Selectwoman E. Patricia Llodra, Monroe First Selectman Steve Vavrek, Newtown Legislative Council Chair Jeff Capeci, Monroe Town Council Chair Enid Lipeles, Newtown Board of Education Chair Debbie Leidlein and Monroe Board of Education Chair Darrel Trump.

These public servants truly stepped up to the call of duty and performed with great bravery and without hesitation. A special thank you to any volunteers who organized — and continue to organize — vigils across our state and country and those who have helped in Monroe and Newtown to prepare Chalk Hill, a sincere thank you.

And as the national media — hopefully in the extremely near future — pack up their trucks and leave Newtown, it is my sincerest hope that those affected by this tragedy are able to start the healing the process with step one being the return to normalcy for the students of Sandy Hook at Chalk Hill.

If you wish to make a donation, in lieu of gifts, the Newtown School Board is requesting that all donations be directed to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund at Newtown.uwwesternct.org Checks can be mailed to: Sandy Hook School Support Fund c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main St, Newtown, CT  06470.

Nicholas Kapoor,

Monroe Town Council Member