Candlelight Vigil for CT Victims Set for Sunday in Lansdale

The tragedy in Newtown, CT has affected citizens in the North Penn area in some way, be it a family or friend connection or the ongoing debate and fervor over gun control.

Lansdale residents in the West Ward have organized a candlelight vigil for Sunday night to honor the teachers and children killed in the school shooting.

The vigil begins at 6 p.m. Dec. 23 at Railroad Plaza in Lansdale. 

West ward resident Ray Liberto said the neighborhood wants the "area to light up the sky and fill the town with song."

The idea is for people to bring candles, light each one and sing Christmas songs while focusing on the emotions in the fallout from the Connecticut tragedy.

"We will have a lot of candles, and people should bring candles themselves. Everyone comes up to Railroad Plaza by 6 p.m. and everybody lights the candles. We sing songs and then everyone walks or drives home," Liberto said.

Liberto said the forecasted cold weather may make it a short event.

"We don't envision it to be a long time. We just want to do something in light of what's happening in Connecticut," Liberto said.  

Liberto said the neighborhood was inspired to organize such an event after seeing lots of posts and lots of emotions on Facebook in the wake of the shooting.

"It affects everybody differently," he said. "This helps with the healing process. People want to feel like they can go out and do something to help people."   

Vigil attendees are asked to bring handmade snowflakes. The Parent-Teacher Association for the Newtown School District has been asking the nation and world to send handmade snowflakes to help make Newtown, CT a winter wonderland.

Handmade snowflakes will be collected at the event, and then mailed to Connecticut.

"We want people to come out and heal in their own way," Liberto said.