Livingston Student: Remember Parkland Shooting On Valentine’s Day

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston resident Robert Stern had just eight words to say after he saw his daughter’s Valentine’s Day Instagram post: “We can learn a lot from our children.”

On Thursday, Rayna Stern – a sixth-grade student at Mt. Pleasant Middle School in Livingston – reminded people that while Feb. 14 is a day of celebration for many, it’s also a day of sorrow for those whose lives were forever changed by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last year.

• See related article: Livingston Students Hold School Walkout Against Gun Violence

Here’s what Stern, 12, wrote on Instagram:

“Today is February 14th 2019 Valentine’s Day. One year ago in Parkland Florida, 17 innocent lives were taken away. Alyssa Alhadeff (14), Scott Beigel (35), Martin Duque Anguiano (14), Nicholas Dworet (17), Aaron Feis (37), Chris Hixon (49), Luke Hoyer (15), Cara Loughran (14), Gina Montalto (14), Joaquin Oliver (17), Alaina Petty (14), Meadow Pollack (18), Helena Ramsay (17), Alex Schachter (14), Carmen Schentrup (16), Peter Wang (15), Jamie Guttenberg (14). People always say ‘it’s just another one.’ It’s really 17 innocent lives taken. No one should have the mindset to shoot up anything. School’s supposed to be one of our safe places and with people like Nikolas Cruz it’s definitely not! Take a moment today and please remember the 17 innocent people that lost their lives due to gun violence. May we never have to go through this again! #neveragain #guncontrol #rip”

After seeing their daughter’s social media post, her father and mother, Hayley Stern, said they were proud of her message.

“There is so much we can learn from children these days,” Robert Stern emphasized.

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Photo courtesy of Rayna and Robert Stern