On a cold clear night, hundreds of people from across the shoreline gathered on the Madison Town Green to honor all of those who have been lost to gun violence on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook. Residents, religious leaders, and politicians gathered on Dec. 17 to reflect on the effects of gun violence in our communities, stand united for change, and light candles for all of those who have been lost.

Shoreline Indivisible organized the vigil in conjunction with other gun violence prevention partners across the state and religious institutions across the shoreline. Attendees carried small placards in the shape of doves with the names of victims and mass shootings across the country and the names of just some of the thousands who have been lost to gun violence were read aloud as the bells of the First Congregational Church in Madison tolled.

State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98), State Representative Noreen Kokoruda (R-101), and a representative from U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney’s office spoke. Scanlon said this is an issue that is quickly politicized and while some political issues have no clear solution, this one does—weapons of war need to be taken off the streets of this country.

“My message to all of you on this cold day is that I am inspired by all of you I feel like when I get calls or emails sometimes you think about moments like this when we can all get together and gather in the name of something that is more important than all of us which is that the lives that were lost don’t have to be lost in vain,” he said.

The Rev. Sarah Verasco of the First Congregational Church in Guilford shared a personal story of gun violence and asked all people to acknowledge the prevalence of violence in our society and to take action.

“Gun violence begins with violence,” she said. “It begins with words that demean and diminish and degrade and dehumanize other people and so what I asked each of us to do today is to take responsibility for the violence that’s in our lives, even as we applaud and thank the representatives who are willing to change the laws. The hope to make people safe is a good hope, but laws don’t keep us safe; citizens who are committed to peace and non-violence keep us safe.”

Temple Beth Tikvah Rabbi Stacy Offner thanked all of those who came out and stood in solidarity and remembrance, but also reminded people that this time of year is a time of hope.

“One of the things that I love about Hanukkah is that it’s a very simple holiday,” she said. “There’s only one thing you have to do and it’s to light a candle. Each day you light candles so that the light grows. Christmas is around the corner. Christmas, too, we share the fact that these holidays happen at the deepest darkness in our cycle of the year and we light lights...We each light singularly, but when we come together, we create a roaring flame of passion and commitment toward the future. We want a better world for our children, our children’s children, and for every one of God’s children. We pray for that better world.”