The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission has met to make a recommendation to the Newtown Board of Selectmen about whether or not to accept a land donation from St John's Episcopal Church where the  "Rock of Angels" memorial stands.  The facility was recently closed by church officials and the property will be sold as a commercial structure.

The town would likely not accept the four-tenths of an acre unless there is a place for the memorial to be moved to.

Commission chairman Kyle Lyddy recommended that the town not accept the Rock of Angels as part of the permanent memorial site.  They said it's too early in the planning process to decide if it would be an appropriate part of the memorial and noted that it goes against the Commission's recommendation to have one memorial. 

The Commission talked about integrating the tribute into the memorial site as part of the pathway to the site, but deferred to the families.  Some parents were not in favor of the memorial when it was gifted to Newtown in 2013.  The families were never consulted about the Rock of Angels, and some members believe the families were left with negative feelings about it. 

The commission suggested that it could possibly be resurfaced and redone if there are names represented in a way not agreeable to the families, or it could be modified to be more neutral.  While they said the church was noble in accepting the rock because it has served as a place of reflection, the Commission prides itself on communication with the 26 families most impacted by 12-14.

The one positive they outlined for keeping the tribute is that people have connected to the piece.