Cheshire "Lights of Hope" honor Newtown victims

NEWTOWN, Conn. (WTNH) -- As Newtown continues to heal this Christmas Eve, another community affected by extreme violence is spreading its message of hope.

Every year since the deadly 2007 home invasion, the town of Cheshire has lit luminaries.

This year, they took the lighting to Newtown dedicating them to the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy.

500 Candles glowing on the grounds of St. Rose of Lima's Church in Newtown.

They're just one of many Christmas Eve tributes meant to help a community still reeling in the wake of tragedy.

"Everyone is in mourning. It's a little different Christmas this year. Um, you know, there, we wanna make it special for the children. It's important that they feel Christmas," Mike Daubert of Newtown said.

The luminaries are part of the Cheshire Lights of Hope. Each candle was purchased for twelve dollars. All of the proceeds are going to aid the survivors to the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.

In town, Julian Revie set up his piano next to a memorial. The sounds of Christmas could be heard as people came to honor the lives lost.

"Music is something that children love and respond to. And, uh, if I can play a few Christmas carols that will touch some kids, um, I'm definitely gonna do that," Revie of Ontario, Canada said.

Christmas Eve and still so many people coming down to offer up gifts and tokens to show their support for the victims. Tonight we learned that the police department is also getting one of the greatest gifts there is this year, and that's the gift of family."

Patrol cars from Darien. Officers from Madison directing traffic. Connecticut towns have offered up their services so that all of the Newtown Police Officers can spend the holidays with their families. The Newtown Police Department confirmed that all of the officers will be off on Christmas Day.

Many people wandering the streets of Sandy Hook say it's the little signs of hope that keep them going.

"We actually just got a new cat for Christmas, and that's really helped to cheer me up," Chris Daubert of Newtown said.