Dear Mr. President:
I would like to propose the awarding of a medal of honor for valor for the adult victims of the tragic events at Newtown, Connecticut. I realize that the Congressional Medal of Honor is not awarded to civilians. But medals are awarded to police officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty. On the morning of December 14, 2013 six courageous women, the educators and school personnel at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, were killed in the line of their duties. That their duties included stimulating young minds and preparing them for a wider world notwithstanding. They honored their commitment to teach, to lead, to protect their students at the cost of their lives. This is the commitment that teachers are making everyday at their posts in the classroom. On reflecting upon the supreme sacrifice of the teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I am reminded of the brave teachers of the South African freedom movement and movements across the globe, as well as, in our own country’s struggles for civil rights. Many teachers have been upon the bulwarks and clearly remain so. The individuals: Dawn Hochsprung, Mary Sherlach, Victoria Soto, Anne Marie Murphy, Rachel D’Avino and Lauren Rousseau, gave their lives in service to their students. I would like to think there is a medal for that degree of sacrifice on the part of a civilian. At a time that our teachers are maligned for political ends, it is perhaps the moment to recognize their valor in the line of duty. I sincerely hope you will consider this proposal.
Sincerely,
Breena Clarke
