Gov. Haley Urges Moment of Silence for Newtown Shooting Victims

To honor the victims' of last week's mass killing at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Gov. Nikki Haley is urging everybody in the state to observe a moment of silence on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m.

“Like families across our state and nation, we were heartbroken by the tragedy that took so many innocent lives in the Town of Newtown,” said Gov. Haley in a statement. “We ask the people of our state join us in a moment of silence as we lift up the families of the fallen in prayer, hug our children a bit tighter and give thanks to our teachers for the selfless service they provide day in and day out.” 

The observance comes exactly a week, and at approximately the same time, as last week's shootings.

Haley's spokesman Rob Godfrey noted that the impetus for the moment of silence came from Connecticut Gov. Dannell Malloy, who sent a letter to fellow governors on Dec. 18 inviting them to join his state in the silent observance.

"The sense of community that has emerged in the wake of this tragedy should not be lost as we begin to emerge from this national tragedy, and I ask you to join with me and the citizens of Connecticut to remember the loved ones lost last Friday," wrote Malloy, who has designated Dec. 21 as a "Day of Mourning" in his state.

Malloy wrote that he also has urged places of worship and government buildings in his state, if they are capable, to ring bells 26 times "in honor of each life taken too soon from Sandy Hook Elementary School." Twenty schoolchildren, and six adults, were murdered at the school.

To read Gov. Malloy's letter, CLICK HERE.