Update: We have decided to not move forward with The 26Valentines Project. While this well-intentioned effort will be no more, we know we'll all continue to honor the children and adults in our own ways.
The day after the shootings in Newtown, Robbie Parker spoke at a press conference. His six-year-old, Emilie, was one of the children who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. He spoke of how many lives Emilie had touched, how bright, creative and loving she was, how infectious her laugh, how she never missed an opportunity to draw a picture or make a card for someone.
I didn't know how he managed to stay composed, but I knew he was standing there in part because he wanted the world to remember Emilie. I ached to do something to help. A couple of weeks later, I heard from my friend Heather at The Extraordinary Ordinary. She wanted to find a way to commemorate those twenty children and six adults, too. That morphed into this, 26Valentines.
Much love has poured in for these children and adults from around the world, their faces engraved
on our hearts. As parents and as bloggers, we wanted to perpetuate that love with a month of tributes throughout February. Twenty-six valentines that say we are still thinking of them and what was special about them, and we will always remember.
Where are these valentines? The links go back to the main blog, not a specific post, and the couple of blogs I visited didn't have anything about this posted.
ReplyDeleteThey start in February—tomorrow the first one goes up.
Deleteooo I missed that, thanks!
DeleteWow, I really love this idea. I'll visit all of them. <3
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Kristi.
DeleteA great idea! Is there any way you can keep the link at the top of your blog or somewhere handy each day?
ReplyDeleteYes, I am planning to post a link every day in February at the bottom of my posts. I am also putting the badge up in the sidebar.
DeleteAwesome, thank you!
DeleteI love this idea. That day, that weekend, those children, Emilie Parks dad. They are forever etched in my memory. I'd love to see one for Nancy Lanza too. She wasn't in the school, but she was also a victim that day.
ReplyDeleteYes, a victim too... This particular effort is focused on those who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
DeleteWhat a great idea and a beautiful tribute. I plan to visit all of the websites and I will try not to cry too much.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special tribute, an inspired idea, to honor those who senselessly lost their lives on that tragic day. You, Heather and your team of bloggers are crafting a beautiful remembrance. :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely precious. What a wonderful idea. Thanks for doing this.
ReplyDeleteWhy have you decided not to go forward with the other 25 Valentines? I so loved this idea and the Jack Pinto tribute was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteA person close to some of the families in Newtown got in touch. She knew the effort was well-meant, and said because of the horrific conspiracy theories floating around the web, the families are especially sensitive right now to online discussion about their loved ones.
DeleteThanks for the reply...completely understandable. Thank you for being so on top of protecting the families.
DeleteThanks you for not going forward with this. While intentions were fine, tributes from strangers on the Internet seems obtrusive and rather tone-deaf.
ReplyDeleteAnon, you are entitled to your opinion. But perhaps any speculation as to what these parents may or may not be feeling is "tone-deaf." I won't be commenting again on this, for the reason mentioned above.
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