Father's Remarks About His Loss
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(catching his breath) So my name's Robbie Parker
My family is one of the families that
lost a child yesterday
in the Sandy Hook Elementary school shootings here in Connecticut.
I've been contacted by so many people
and agencies wanting to know
how we were doing and I just thought
that this might be the best way to share those feelings with everybody.
First of all I'd really like
to offer our deepest condolences to all the families
who were directly affected by this shooting.
It's an horrific tragedy
and we want everybody to know that our hearts and our prayers go out to them.
This includes the family of the shooter.
I can't imagine how hard this experience must be for you.
And I want you to know that our family
and our love and our support goes out to you as well.
At this time our thanks go out to so many people
so many friends and family and complete strangers
who we don't know
for all the love, condolences and support that you've given us
My daughter, Emilie,
would be one of the first ones
to be standing and giving her love and support to all those victims
because that's the type of person that she is.
Not because of any parenting that my wife and I could have done
but because those were the gifts that were given to her by her heavenly father.
As the deep pain begins to settle into our hearts
we find comfort reflecting on the incredible person that Emilie was.
and how many lives that she was able to touch in her short time here on earth
Emilie was bright, creative and very loving
Emilie was always willing to try new things
other than food.
She loved to use her talents to touch the lives of everyone that she came into contact with
She was an exceptional artist
and she always carried around her markers and pencils
so that she never missed an opportunity
to draw a picture or make a card
for those around her.
I can't count the number of times
Emilie noticed someone feeling sad or frustrated
and would rush to find a piece of paper
to draw them a picture or to write them an encouraging note
Emilie's card-making was expressed beautifully this last October
when she placed a very special card that she had made
into the casket with her Grandpa.
who also just recently died of a tragic accident.
Emilie was a mentor to her two little sisters
in delighting and teaching them how to read
dance and find the simple joys of life.
Emilie's laughter was infectious
and all those who had the pleasure to meet her
would agree that this world is a better place because she has been in it.
As we move on from what happened here
what happened to so many people
let it not turn into something that defines us
but something that inspires us to be better
to be more compassionate
and more humble people.
Let us please keep the sentiments of love that we feel for our families
and the compassion that we feel for others even complete strangers.
and keep them with us at all times.
not just in times of sorrow and tragedy