Graduation day is bittersweet for Sandy Hook shooting survivors
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)
Graduation day is bittersweet for high school seniors and their families everywhere, but perhaps more so for a group of students walking the stage Wednesday, June 12, in Newtown, Connecticut. While 330 students are graduating high school there, 350 names will be read out because of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
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Sandy Hook survivors will honor murdered classmates at their high school graduation
Click to see story on The IndependentSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsSandy Hook survivors to graduate with ‘mixed emotions’ years after 20 peers killed: ‘We can’t forget…’
Click to see story on Hindustan Times‘It’s going to be heartbreaking:’ Sandy Hook survivors get ready to graduate high school without the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on CNN‘There is a whole chunk of our class missing’: Sandy Hook survivors reflect on graduating without former classmates
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaSandy Hook survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on nprSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 6 PhiladelphiaSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 13 HoustonSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc11 RaleighSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 NewsSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc30 NewsSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Japan TodaySandy Hook shooting survivors are graduating and still looking for change
Click to see story on Mass LiveSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WSVN‘We want to be those regular teenagers’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors prepare for emotional graduation
Click to see story on NBC ConnecticutSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on McAlester News-CapitalSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KIFISchool shooting survivors: Sandy Hook students set to graduate as Marjory Stoneman Douglas comes down
Click to see story on The HillSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Washington Top NewsSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPLGSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Pioneer PressSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 ChicagoSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCRA 3Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on San Diego Union TribuneSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 LASandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCVBSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLWTSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMURSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLKYSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WESHSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KETVSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTAESandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WYFFSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCCISandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KMBCSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WISNSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBAL-TVSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPTZSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMTWSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WVTMSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions; victims to be honored
Click to see story on Syracuse NYSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KOATSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KWWLSome Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate
Click to see story on Fox8Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate high school
Click to see story on NY1Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCBDSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The ColumbianSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPBFSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WGALSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTNHSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KSBWSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WFSBSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WJCLSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KHBSSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The ReporterFor Sandy Hook shooting survivors, CT high school graduation is a ‘bittersweet’ milestone
Click to see story on Hartford CourantSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on FOX 61Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBURSandy Hook shooting survivors set to graduate from HS with mixed feelings: ‘A whole chunk of our class missing’
Click to see story on New York Post‘They’ll be there with us’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduate
Click to see story on 9NewsSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on Albany HeraldSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Daily PressRight
Untracked Bias
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning SunSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on NXSTSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on pantheonsite.ioSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on MOR-TVSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on Good Morning AmericaThe 20 extra names will be those of the students whose lives were taken too soon on a December day in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. That’s when a gunman went into two first-grade classrooms and opened fire, killing 20 students and six educators.
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Ahead of their graduation, survivors of that day reflected.
“The what-ifs kind of spoil a lot of precious moments, you know, just because you always remember that they’re not there,” Ella Seaver said. “So, even going to prom, you think, ‘Well, what if they were my prom date?’ Or, you know, ‘What if they were my significant other? What if they were able to walk the stage with me. Who would I still be friends with now?’”
The class of 2024 is wearing green and white ribbons on their graduation gowns that say “forever in our hearts” as another way to memorialize their classmates who never got to make it to this milestone. However, that’s not all they’re doing.
A group of seniors who survived the shooting have been active in the Junior Newtown Action Alliance’s efforts to end gun violence — even taking part in a rally on Friday, June 7, just days ahead of walking the stage.
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“I wanted to turn such a terrible thing into something more, and that these children and educators didn’t die for nothing,” survivor Lilly Wasilnak said. “Of course it was awful what happened to them, and it should have never happened. But I think that for me, something bigger needed to come out of it, or else it would have been all for nothing.”
The Sandy Hook massacre was the deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history.
[KARAH RUCKER]
GRADUATION DAY IS BITTERSWEET FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVERYWHERE… BUT PERHAPS MORE SO FOR A GROUP OF STUDENTS WALKING THE STAGE WEDNESDAY IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT.
WHILE 330 STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL THERE TODAY… 350 NAMES WILL BE READ OUT.
THE 20 EXTRA NAMES WILL BE THOSE OF THE STUDENTS WHOSE LIVES WERE TAKEN TOO SOON ON A DECEMBER DAY IN 2012 AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THAT’S WHEN A GUNMAN WENT INTO TWO FIRST-GRADE CLASSROOMS AND OPENED FIRE… KILLING 20 STUDENTS AND SIX EDUCATORS.
AHEAD OF THEIR GRADUATION…SURVIVORS OF THAT TRAGIC DAY ARE REFLECTING.
Ella Seaver, Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Survivor
“The what-ifs kind of spoil a lot of precious moments, you know, just because you always remember that they’re not there. So even going to prom, you think, well, what if they were my prom date? Or, you know, what if they were my significant other? What if they were able to walk the stage with me. Who would I still be friends with now?”
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE CLASS OF 2024 WILL BE WEARING GREEN AND WHITE RIBBONS ON THEIR GRADUATION GOWNS THAT SAY “FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS” AS ANOTHER WAY TO MEMORIALIZE THEIR CLASSMATES WHO NEVER GOT TO MAKE IT TO THIS MILESTONE.
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL THEY’RE DOING.
A GROUP OF SENIORS WHO SURVIVED THE SHOOTING HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE JUNIOR NEWTOWN ACTION ALLIANCE’S EFFORTS TO END GUN VIOLENCE – EVEN TAKING PART IN A RALLY LAST FRIDAY… JUST DAYS AHEAD OF WALKING THE STAGE.
Lilly Wasilnak, Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Survivor
“I wanted to turn such a terrible thing into something more, and that these children and educators didn’t die for nothing. Of course it was awful what happened to them, and it should have never happened. But I think that for me, something bigger needed to come out of it, or else it would have been all for nothing.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE SANDY HOOK MASSACRE WAS THE DEADLIEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING IN U-S HISTORY.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Sandy Hook survivors will honor murdered classmates at their high school graduation
Click to see story on The IndependentSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsSandy Hook survivors to graduate with ‘mixed emotions’ years after 20 peers killed: ‘We can’t forget…’
Click to see story on Hindustan Times‘It’s going to be heartbreaking:’ Sandy Hook survivors get ready to graduate high school without the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on CNN‘There is a whole chunk of our class missing’: Sandy Hook survivors reflect on graduating without former classmates
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaSandy Hook survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on nprSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 6 PhiladelphiaSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 13 HoustonSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc11 RaleighSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 NewsSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc30 NewsSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Japan TodaySandy Hook shooting survivors are graduating and still looking for change
Click to see story on Mass LiveSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WSVN‘We want to be those regular teenagers’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors prepare for emotional graduation
Click to see story on NBC ConnecticutSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on McAlester News-CapitalSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KIFISchool shooting survivors: Sandy Hook students set to graduate as Marjory Stoneman Douglas comes down
Click to see story on The HillSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Washington Top NewsSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPLGSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Pioneer PressSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 ChicagoSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCRA 3Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on San Diego Union TribuneSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on abc 7 LASandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCVBSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLWTSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMURSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WLKYSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WESHSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KETVSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTAESandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WYFFSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KCCISandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KMBCSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WISNSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBAL-TVSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPTZSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WMTWSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WVTMSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions; victims to be honored
Click to see story on Syracuse NYSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KOATSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on KWWLSome Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate
Click to see story on Fox8Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate high school
Click to see story on NY1Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WCBDSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The ColumbianSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WPBFSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WGALSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WTNHSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KSBWSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WFSBSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WJCLSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on KHBSSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on The ReporterFor Sandy Hook shooting survivors, CT high school graduation is a ‘bittersweet’ milestone
Click to see story on Hartford CourantSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on FOX 61Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on WBURSandy Hook shooting survivors set to graduate from HS with mixed feelings: ‘A whole chunk of our class missing’
Click to see story on New York Post‘They’ll be there with us’: Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduate
Click to see story on 9NewsSandy Hook survivors will graduate high school today and remember the classmates they lost in 1st grade massacre
Click to see story on Albany HeraldSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on Daily PressRight
Untracked Bias
Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning SunSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on NXSTSandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on pantheonsite.ioSandy Hook shooting survivors graduating with mixed emotions and without 20 of their classmates
Click to see story on MOR-TVSandy Hook survivors share memories, plans for the future ahead of high school graduation
Click to see story on Good Morning AmericaStraight to your inbox.
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