Light Shines in Fairfield for Newtown

The glow of hundreds of candles lit up the night at Sherman Green Monday, as Fairfielders turned out to show solace and support for its neighbor to the north, Newtown.

In the midst of the crowd, a memorial stood: 26 candles enveloped in brightly colored paper bags. Each bag bore the name of a person who died Friday inside Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The luminaries were lit as First Selectman Michael Tetreau, Selectman Cristin McCarthy Vahey, and Selectman Kevin Kiley read each victim's name aloud.

Throughout the vigil, Fairfield's spiritual leaders and officials offered words of comfort to the grieving public.

"The light will shine in the darkness," Rev. David Spollett, pastor of First Church Congregational, said. "Darkness will not prevail."

Though Friday's tragedy occurred in a town 25 miles away from Fairfield, the vigil -- as well as the many vigils that have been held across the state in the past few days -- was proof of the spirit of community engulfing Connecticut, Tetreau said.

"Not one street, not one school, not one neighborhood, not even one town. We really are one community," Tetreau said. "We are all together -- and it makes some of the differences and some of the squabbles that we see every day pale in comparison, and seem much smaller."

Through song, through prayer, and through light, Fairfield offered that sense of community to Newtown. The town also displayed another feeling.

"Our community is one of love," resident Tyson Toller said.