Warwick hosts vigil for Newton

WARWICK — On Thursday evening, Dec. 20, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton, members of the Warwick Valley Chorale and a small group of local residents held a candlelight vigil and a brief ceremony to express their solidarity with the people of Newtown, Conn.

“We wanted them to know that Warwick stands with them,” said Vienna Aubert, a member of the Warwick Valley Chorale who helped organize the event on short notice and who conducted the ceremony.

It was only two days before the vigil that Venus Miller, Aubert’s neighbor at the Liberty Green senior housing complex, suggested that a candlelight vigil would help answer the question: “What can I do?” for the people of Warwick.

Short notice

Although Aubert was new to Warwick, she was a member of the chorale and she felt other members of that group could quickly spread the word among their friends and families.

Organizing a vigil during a busy holiday season and with no time to spare, however, was more of a task than she and her small ad hoc committee had anticipated. But they did it.

Besides getting the word out, obtaining candles, printing song sheets and arranging a program, they first had to obtain permission to use the park. But with the help of Mayor Michael Newhard, that request was soon approved.

Green and white bows

About 50 people attended the vigil, which was held from 6 to 6:30 p.m. They held lighted candles, sang and prayed together.

To help offer a touching and symbolic gesture at the conclusion of the ceremony, Corwin Florist and Greenhouses donated 26 green and white bows, the colors of the Sandy Hook School District. The attendees then attached them to a nearby tree in memory of the 20 children and six adults who were killed.



By Roger Gavan