WASHINGTON, D.C. — In commemoration of the second anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, as well as the 60,000 American victims of gun violence since December 2012, The Newtown Foundation will join Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Washington National Cathedral and allies from across the United States in a vigil service of mourning and remembrance for all those who have fallen victim to the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in America.

The vigil service will take place at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, December 11. Gun violence victims and their families from across the country have been invited to attend the vigil in Washington, D.C. Vigils will also be held December 11-14 in cities and towns nationwide.

“Our goal is to have attendees from all over the US join our D.C. vigil on December 11,” said Po Murray, chairman, Newtown Foundation and Newtown Action Alliance. “Additionally, with the help of Faiths United and States United, we will be coordinating vigils in communities nationwide to drive home the tragically persistent, far-reaching consequences of gun violence.”

Vincent DeMarco, the national coordinator of Faiths United To Prevent Gun Violence, said his group is “honored to join this important tribute by encouraging faith communities across the country to participate in the December 11-14 Vigils. We will educate Americans that there are effective tools, like fingerprint licensing of handgun purchasers, which we can use to prevent gun violence and save lives."

Sue Hornik, the executive director of States United to Prevent Gun Violence, said “The tragedy of Newtown continues to break our hearts. The innocents who lost their lives that day drew attention to the lives lost to gun violence every day in our country. More than 90 percent of Americans now agree on commonsense reforms to ensure the safety of our children and families. In their memory, we will work together to make sure that happens.”

The Very Reverend Gary R. Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral, said the cathedral “joins Americans across the country in mourning the tragic loss of life caused by gun violence. We will continue to ask our elected leaders to act to reduce the number of gun deaths in America, and we will continue to pray for all those touched by this needless and senseless epidemic of gun violence in our land.”

According to recent statistics, there have been at least 86 school shootings — including fatal and nonfatal assaults, suicides, and unintentional shootings — since 12/14.

The Newtown Foundation s a Newtown-based, all volunteer, 501(c)(3) organization that has been working since 12/14 to help its community heal and be remembered as the place where positive cultural changes began.

Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence is a diverse coalition of more than 50 denominations and faith-based organizations united by the call of faiths to confront America’s gun violence epidemic and to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire.

States United to Prevent Gun Violence is a national non-profit organization working to support 28 state-based gun violence prevention groups and help build new state-led organizations. States United believes that all Americans deserve to live in a country free from the fear, threat, and devastation caused by gun violence.