Washington National Cathedral Hosts Prayer Vigil on Sandy Hook Anniversary

Washington, DC — A Prayer Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence will be held on Thursday, December 11 from 3 to 4:30 pm at Washington National Cathedral. The interfaith vigil marks the second anniversary of the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Presented by Faiths United against Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, the Newtown Foundation, and Washington National Cathedral, the service is the flagship vigil among more than 195 vigils in 35 states across the country this week.

Victims and family members of gun violence will gather at the Cathedral from more than 18 states and the District of Columbia to remember those lost and injured by gun violence, to give visibility to the more than 60,000 gun violence deaths in the United States since the shooting in Newtown in 2012, and to re-commit to the urgent work of stemming this national epidemic.

According to recent statistics, there have been at least 95 school shootings, including fatal and nonfatal assaults, suicides, and unintentional shootings, since the shooting in Newtown, Conn. In the two years since Newtown, there has been nearly one school shooting per week.

Participants include victim family members, community and organizational leaders, and interfaith leaders. Music will be offered by the choir Mosaic Harmony and by composer/pianist Doug Hammer and cellist Velleda Miragias. The Rev. Matt Crebbin, senior minister of Newtown Congregational Church, will offer the Prayer of Gratitude and Grace. The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and the Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral, host the service; Dean Hall will offer the Call to Commitment.