The message Newtown football coach Steve George and teacher Bob Pattison left on their classroom whiteboard Saturday night was simple and direct.
It could have been a message to George’s players in a Newtown locker room.
This one was for the President of the United States.
President Barack Obama was on his way to Newtown High School Sunday night to address a packed auditorium of families and community leaders gathered to mourn the shooting deaths of 20 children and six teachers at nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School.
It was a simple, thank you note.
And it got a simple, powerful, reply.
George, a Newtown graduate and the football coach since 2007, Tweeted a picture of it just an hour or so after the President left town. It was re-Tweeted several hundred times within a half hour.
Myself an pattison left a note to president Obama on my board and he responded!!Here is his response. twitter.com/newtownfootbal…
— Steven George (@newtownfootball) December 17, 2012
George and Pattison wrote:
“Dear President Obama,
“The Newtown community is so thankful that you are coming to help us heal. In times of adversity it is reassuring to know that we have a strong leader to help us recover.
-Steve George, teacher/football coach
-Bobby Pattison, teacher
Obama’s reply:
You’re in our thoughts and prayers.
-Barack Obama
Obama met the families of the children and teachers killed in the Sandy Hook shooting and later addressed the auditorium with an 18-minute speech broadcast around the world.
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