The Salvation Army provides support after gun attack.
The Salvation Army provided food and support to the people of Newtown, Conn., after 26 people were killed in the attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Southern New England Divisional Leaders Majors Dave and Eunice Champlin supported people who had lost loved ones at the evening vigil on Dec. 14—the night of the shooting—along with divisional headquarters officers Majors Steven and Valerie Lopes and Captain Todd Hughes.
The division, based out of Hartford, Conn., served residents and first responders with food and beverages from a canteen at the Sandy Hook Fire Department. Care counselors from The Salvation Army were present to offer spiritual and emotional care.
Out of respect for the tragedy, all three of The Salvation Army’s World Record Bell-Ringers—Ryan Gass, Jason Perkins, and Darrell Tureskis—agreed to share this year’s record, ending the competition at 80 hours, after holding a 27-minute long moment of silent ringing to recognize each of those who were lost that day.
On Dec. 16, Majors Champlin, representing The Salvation Army, joined other members of clergy at a vigil attended by President Barack Obama.