After Newtown

What happens next to those kids who survived last week's horrible Newtown tragedy? I thought this piece on NRO about a fire at a Catholic school in Chicago in the 1950s was quite interesting. The fire on December 1, 1958 killed many: 

Ninety-two children and three teachers died in the Our Lady of Angels fire. Many died of smoke inhalation — the solid exterior of the building kept the smoke inside or funneled it into rooms where the children were trapped. Some children, guided by teachers, escaped through the hallways. But others found it impossible to outrun the deadly smoke. As one fireman was ready to rescue a group of children, they died suddenly, incinerated by the incredibly high temperatures.

 How was this remembered?

About 40 years after the Our Lady of Angels fire, a small group of survivors came together to create a durable memory and reminder of what had occurred. They created a website with scores of photos of the fire and funerals. There was also photos from “better days” to remind everyone that their entire identity need not be consumed by tragedy. A discussion board now ten years old expresses what happened to many specific individuals. This showed the many different ways of grieving and rebuilding lives, affirmations that this was possible. Perhaps these stories may offer some kind of roadmap to those affected by Newtown.

I think back at the awful tragedies of Columbine, the CO movie theater showing Batman, smaller incidents like that GMU student who drowned my first semester there, VA Tech, etc. You survive, somehow. I remember when Star closed and how I felt like it was the end of the world. It wasn't, and it wasn't as horrific is this. But you survive, one day at a time. But you never forget.