Obama honors six educators killed in Newtown massacre

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Obama honors six educators killed in Newtown massacre

By Matt Spetalnick and Margaret Chadbourn
WASHINGTON | Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:22pm EST

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama, marking a poignant moment in his push to curb gun violence, awarded presidential medals posthumously on Friday to six educators killed in the Newtown school massacre, saying they gave their lives to protect "the most innocent and helpless among us."

Obama bestowed the honor, which recognizes citizens who have performed "exemplary deeds" of service, on four teachers and two administrators killed in the December 14 shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, a tragedy that sparked nationwide calls for tighter gun control laws.

In a White House ceremony, Presidential Citizens Medals, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, were presented one-by-one to the slain women's families, many of them in tears as Obama embraced and consoled them. Twenty first-graders were also killed in the attack by a lone gunman.

Obama said the educators came to school that morning with "no idea that evil was about to strike."

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/us-usa-guns-obama-idUSBRE91E0V920130215

[Octafish]

1. Heroes.

Saints.

[Demo_Chris]

2. This is congressional medal of honor conduct

There needs to be a better award for this heroism like this.