Who Painted Over the Sandy Hook Tribute on the Graffiti Bridge Remains a Mystery

By WENDY ANN MITCHELL (Patch Staff)

A tribute that stood at the intersection of Junction Road and Rt. 133 as a somber reminder of the tragedy in Sandy Hook was painted over last week and who painted over it remains a mystery.

Patch reported Monday that the Sandy Hook tribute created by high school students after the tragic school shootings on Dec. 14, 2012 had been painted. The green hearts with messages of remembrance had remained in tact for the past two-and-a-half years up until last week.

Patch became aware of the issue after a local concerned resident contacted us. After we published the story, several other residents also expressed concern.

A representative with the Brookfield First Selectman’s office told Patch on Monday that the Housatonic Railroad Company painted over the tribute, however, a representative from Housatonic Railroad Company told Patch on Tuesday that they did not paint the bridge.

“I just assumed it was them,” the town representative said. “I saw them working there.”

Matthew R. Whitney, Housatonic Railroad Company, Office of Corporate Counsel, told Patch on Tuesday that their crew was there last week replacing the bridge deck up top, but they were not painting.

“The Housatonic Railroad did not paint over the Brookfield Bridge tribute or any other part of the bridge. The last time Housatonic forces painted any part of this structure was approximately five years ago when we were called to paint over some offensive graffiti at the request of the town. We are honored to be a part of the communities through which we operate and we were saddened to learn that someone painted over this tribute.”

Related:

Sandy Hook Tribute Painted Over at Brookfield’s Graffiti Bridge

Photo: Ruby Mitchell