Father of Sandy Hook Victim Gives Heartbreaking Speech: 'The World Was a Better Place Because She Was In It'
Robbie Parker, the father of one of Sandy Hook Elementary's young victims, gave a heartbreaking speech to the media Saturday evening after officials released the names and ages of those killed in the shooting. The speech is devastating. Fighting back tears, Parker described his six-year-old daughter Emilie's life, saying she was brave and loved to try new things (except for new food), and said the "world was a better place because she was in it." He added that Emilie was "an exceptional artist and she always carried around her markers and pencils so she never missed an opportunity to draw a picture or make a card for someone." He told reporters that, if she'd survived, Emilie would've wanted to help the families of victims.
"My daugther Emilie would be one of the first ones to be standing up and giving her love and support to all of those victims, because that is the type of person she is," he said.
Parker also offered condolences to shooter Adam Lanza's family: "I can't imagine how hard this experience must be for you, and I want you to know that our family and our love and our support goes out to you as well."