Members of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission (SHPMC) heard presentations from two area artists during the commission’s regular meeting on November 13, conducted at Newtown Municipal Center. The presentations were at the requests of the artists, said Kyle Lyddy, SHPMC chairman.

Mr Lyddy stressed to both presenters that the commission cannot endorse any plan at this time, and is still heavily invested in gathering information. The commission is charged with determining if a permanent memorial is desired, and if so, the location, nature, and design of any memorial. The commission is also charged with how to fund and maintain any memorial.

The group heard first from Richmond Jones, who introduced himself as a political cartoonist and photographer, with a studio in Newtown. Mr Jones displayed four large blueprints and two models to clarify his vision for a memorial park and education center. The centerpiece of Mr Jones’s vision is a circle one kilometer in diameter, intersected by four paths to create, aerially, a peace sign. The circumference of the peace sign would be a three-kilometer track. Interior portions would be grassy areas, and 26 trees would be placed around the perimeter of the circle.

The model depicted an ecumenical chapel; bike and walking paths; sculpture, contemplation, and memorial gardens; a playground; art studio/gallery; and a children’s theater and museum, on an approximately 12-acre tract of property, all of which Mr Jones said would be a master plan for a concept, and adoptable in part or whole.

Southbury resident David Merrill, well-known painter and muralist, also presented his suggestion for a permanent memorial in town. Mr Merrill’s design is for a wall mural of an oak tree. In the branches, 26 doves, which could or could not contain the names of those who died 12/14, encircle a white and red heart painted with the words “Forever In Our Hearts.” The trunk of the tree would have painted words “carved” that read, “Sandy Hook Elementary School, 12-14-12.”

The mural could be painted on any wall of a municipal building, Mr Merrill said, preferably indoors, or in a protected exterior location.

Mr Lyddy thanked the presenters, reiterating that the commission is “listening to different thoughts and ideas.”

Survey Responses

Following Thursday’s presentations, the commission then moved on to an overview of the responses received from emergency personnel, Sandy Hook School parents and staff, and from the families directly affected by 12/14. Of 608 e-mails sent to Sandy Hook School parents, Mr Lyddy said that 197 responses have been received. Parents have until the end of November to complete the online survey, he added. Five members of Newtown Police Department, nine members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, and four from the State Police have responded to the survey, with Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps declining.

Thirteen surveys have been received from families directly affected, Mr Lyddy said, and noted that four more opinions were in place from members of the SHPMC. Parents JoAnn Bacon, Brian Engel, Scarlett Lewis and Tricia Pinto, whose children died at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 12/14, serve on the commission, as do community members Joanne Brunetti, Steffan Burns, Daniel Krauss, Agni Pavlidou Kyprianou, Alan Martin, Sarah Middeleer, and Donna Van Waalwijk, appointed by First Selectman Pat Llodra in September 2013.

The survey seeks input on questions that include whether a memorial should be erected, and if so, should it be in a visible place, location, design, and materials, as well as commentary from participants. The idea of scholarships as an abstract memorial has surfaced frequently, so far, Mr Lyddy noted, and 94 percent of responses to date say that there should be some kind of permanent memorial, with most preferring to see it sited in a somewhat secluded area in the Sandy Hook region. Many respondents said the memorial should not be dramatic or sad, but rather incorporate elements of nature, and offer inspiration and hope. Elements of water, gardens and trees are important, and a majority of those answering the surveys said no metal should be used in this memorial.

Mr Lyddy asked commission members to review the pages of survey answers provided to them on Thursday evening, and “sift through them for trends.” The commission hopes to tally those trends by the end of December.

Discussion Thursday evening also focused on the best way to reach out to the Newtown community at large. Consensus leaned toward multiple in-person forums, to begin after the new year. Notification of these forums will be through various media and social network outlets.