Work began Tuesday morning constructing a playground at Watertown's Veteran's Memorial Park in honor of Sandy Hook principal Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung. Hochsprung died trying to save her students during the Sandy Hook school shootings.
The group 'Where Angels Play' is constructing the playground, the 26th and final playground being built as a living memorial to each of the victims.
All of the playgrounds are constructed in areas hit by Hurricane Sandy.
The playground in memory of Hochsprung has particular significance to Watertown. Lillian Lavin, the founder of 'Where Angels Play,' said Hochsprung's four young grandchildren and her daughter live in Watertown. It also will be the closest playground to Newtown, giving residents there a place to come and celebrate their loved ones. People can begin visiting the playground on Sunday, when a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held. The Town Times in Watertown said Sunday's ceremony will feature several of Hochsprung's favorite things, including Hershey's Kisses and chocolate chip cookies. The paper also reports there will be a "moment of reading" when everyone will be given a copy of the children's book 'Make Way for Ducklings' to read aloud because Hochsprung used to read the book to her students.
Organizers say Sunday's ribbon cutting is a celebration of Hochsprung's life, and is not meant to be a sad event.
