Children’s messages to Newtown kids (Photos)

By Casey McNerthney on December 24, 2012 at 7:42 PM

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This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 1of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

12242012newtown02 — 2of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 3of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 4of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 5of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 6of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

12242012newtown07 — 7of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

12242012newtown08 — 8of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

12242012newtown09 — 9of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 10of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 11of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 12of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

12242012newtown14 — 13of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 14of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 15of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 16of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 17of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

12242012newtown19 — 18of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

12242012newtown20 — 19of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 20of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 21of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

12242012newtown23 — 22of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 23of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 24of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 25of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 26of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. — 27of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims.

12242012newtown29 — 28of28 This is one of the messages sent by children to the kids in Sandy Hook, Conn., where 20 students and six school staff members were killed at their elementary school Dec. 14. This picture was taken the evening of Dec. 24, a day when homes across Newtown lit 26 luminaries at 5 p.m. to remember the victims. (Casey McNerthney/Hearst Newspapers)

More than a week after the shooting that took 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, messages kept arriving from around the world.

There was a card from the Philippines, letters from school children across the United States, hundreds of stuffed animals and support notes from mournful teachers.

Some of the most touching letters were sent by children to the surviving students in Sandy Hook.

“I’m very sorry for your loss,” a pencil-written message said on a blue crayon-colored angel. “Hugs.”

From another little boy named Gavin: “I hope you get to play xBox and Legos.”

The unintentional misspellings – one child wrote “I hope you fill safe,” – showed how delicate and sincere their messages are.

They’re also striking reminders of the victims’ innocence.

Casey McNerthney