Letter to the Editor: Killingworth Where Are You?

Killingworth, Connecticut I am ashamed of you. I am so disappointed that EVERY town around us, big and small held a vigil Sunday and we had to travel to another town to participate.

We have plenty of space, resources and means to host our own. It is downright embarrassing that we are not coming together as a community to support the victims and families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, particularly since it is within our region. EVERY SINGLE town that surrounds us is holding a vigil... we stand alone by not having one. That is shameful. Even if ten people showed up... we'd be three of those! Connecticut is a small state, when you hurt one town - you hurt all of us. We must come together and show solidarity in this time of tragedy. And tonight, my family will do that even though as a town you have failed us.

St. Lawrence in Killingworth is holding a vigil, though it is probably by their coordination. And I thank them for that. When I expressed my opinions on this subject to Killingworth Today I was asked 'what I had done to arrange a vigil or who I had contacted' - I don't have the exact wording as the comments were deleted. My response was the following:

I look to our Town Government for leadership... like the other towns. They are leaders, which are why they are elected, not me. Their Selectman and leaders and churches came together and organized their vigils. I happen to work for two other municipalities and know how their vigils were organized and they didn't have to be urged by citizens. Granted, they were coordinated with the citizens which is how it should be. But Town leaders are supposed to be the ambassadors of the residents of their Town. They are representatives for us. So when a tragedy happens, we look to them to reach out on our behalf (which I assume was done), organize events such as vigils for residents, etc. Every town surrounding/near us had a vigil - Clinton, Westbrook, Madison, Essex, etc. etc. etc. and it is embarrassing that on Sunday... Killingworth was dark. But I guess I will take your suggestion. I will take it upon myself and make sure it happens because apparently I cannot rely on the powers that be to do so.

One reason I didn't 'reach out' to anyone is because we have a newly functioning website and our Town officials don't use social media the way many other towns do. They used it for updates during Hurricane Sandy, they used it to reassure parents Friday about school security measures and they've used it since then to update citizens on vigils, fundraisers, etc. for Sandy Hook victims. And where is Killingworth?? **crickets** 

Killingworth is facing a lot of problems right now... the least of which is the lack of a Facebook account. But when it is all added up- we are in the dark ages. And our Town in crisis. Bank robberies, regular burglaries, lack of communication during emergencies/storms... and if we can't do something as small but meaningful as come together as a community and plan a vigil to honor the victims of a tragedy in our own region I can’t imagine how we can conquer larger issues.

Where are our leaders??

Sarah Renois Judge, Killingworth