NEWTOWN, Conn. (WCBS 880) — Under a clear blue sky and in front of a rolling meadow covered with snow, Jenny Hubbard reclaimed a dark day in the name of love and compassion.
"Dec. 14 will always be a horrible day of darkness where my life was shattered upside down and turned upside down," she said. "But it's also a day that started this beautiful sanctuary."
A groundbreaking ceremony for the $10 million permanent facilities at "The Catherine Violet Hubbard Sanctuary" was held on the 10th anniversary of Catherine's death at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Wednesday.
"The sanctuary really has been a place where people have found, in the truest sense of sanctuary, a place of healing," Jenny added.
Six-year-old Catherine was one of the 20 students and six educators killed in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Following her death, the state of Connecticut donated 34 acres of land to the animal sanctuary.
Catherine, an animal lover, used to talk to animals.
"She would send them off with this request to tell their friends that she was kind," Jenny added. "She believed if they knew that Catherine Violet Hubbard was kind, they would come back to her in droves."
Jenny noted that the sanctuary works on the "premise" that "if people can really understand human kindness," then it could "make the world a kinder place."
Without any permanent structures, the sanctuary has up until now offered a range of services, including adoptions and helping seniors with their pets.
Catherine's artwork will be used as wallpaper in the buildings once they are finished. Part of the roof will have terracotta tiles — red like Catherine's hair.
Across Newtown on Wednesday, there were no official remembrances in keeping with the town's tradition of quiet reflection. Several churches planned memorial services.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, said in a video message posted on social media, "Newtown, you're always in our hearts."
The state passed new gun controls after the massacre, including bans on certain semiautomatic rifles and large-capacity magazines.
"What would be even more tragic — if we didn’t learn and do everything we can to make sure a tragedy like this is less likely to ever happen again," Lamont said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related
Related
Related
