On December 14th, 2022, it will officially have been ten years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting. As we approach that date, I as a resident of Newtown Connecticut where the shooting occurred have witnessed in slightly jealous awe as several of my classmates, members of the Newtown Action Alliance, a group focused on increasing gun control, travel to Washington D.C. There, they attended a vigil for the victims, and met some important politicians, President Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi, just to name a few. These politicians are key figures in the fight against gun violence in America, but even more important are my classmates. All those who attended this vigil are survivors of the shooting itself, and have been inspired by it or others to speak out against gun violence. Their voices are the strongest in the fight, and it is inspiring to see such action from my peers.

I personally am not as active in this regard, however I do still remember the shooting in other ways. One major way, is through BBYO. Since eighth grade, I have belonged to a chapter called Noah Pozner BBYO #5299, named after Noah Pozner, the one Jewish child who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting. Founded in 1996 as Genesis BBYO, the chapter was renamed in early 2013, following the shooting. Noah’s parents and his sister were invited to a special service at our local synagogue, led by BBYO teens. Little did Noah’s family know that the chapter was being renamed in Noah’s honor, and that they would be presented with a blue book, and a new chapter charter, for a chapter of which Noah would be a lifetime member. Additionally, a grove of 1,000 trees was planted in Israel in Noah’s name. 

Though I’ve often shortened Noah Pozner BBYO to NoPo, I’ll always remember what it stands for, and who it stands for. Just a few years ago, Noah himself would have been old enough to join BBYO. Every year at conventions, a member of our chapter has read a speech at Saturday morning services about Noah and our chapter’s, and region’s, dedication to him, a responsibility and privilege which recently became mine. In addition, this year at our Fall Convention, which took place about a month prior to the anniversary, we celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of our Senior Regional Director’s son. As a part of this, we collected money for his mitzvah project, which he chose to be for Sandy Hook Promise, a charity that raises money to stop gun violence through education. All that Noah’s mother ever asked for was that her son never be forgotten, and I can confidently say that there’s little chance of that ever happening, because I’ll never forget Noah Pozner, for as long as I live. And as long as Noah Pozner BBYO #5299 exists, something I work hard to ensure will be for a long time, no one else will forget Noah either.