Grace Mcdonnell

Grace McDonnell (November 4, 2005 – December 14, 2012) was a first-grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She is one of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. She was shot dead along with most of her classmates in the shooting at Sandy Hook School. She is the daughter of Chris McDonnell and Lynn Zapf of Sandy Hook. She wanted to be a painter and live on Martha's Vineyard. Her father gave a painting of an Owl with a belly button and a heart that she had made to President Obama when the President visited Newtown in the days following the mass shooting. In a speech announcing new gun control laws, President Obama said that he had framed the painting and hung it in his private study in the White House The President noted that he looks at the painting and draws inspiration to change gun laws in the US to avert gun deaths and future tragedies.

The photograph of Grace's parents taken moments after they were told that their daughter had died has been called iconic for capturing the nation's grief at the massacare of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook. The photograph was featured on the front page of both The New York Times and The Washington Post the day after the tragedy.

Life
Grace was born in Bridgeport, CT, and was a lifetime resident of Sandy Hook. She is the second child of Chris and Lynn McDonnell. She has an older brother. In her obituary, the family described her as being passionate about painting and the beach. According to her family, her dream was to grow up to be painter and live on Martha's Vineyard.

Grace was a student in the first grade class of substitute teacher Laurene Rosseau. Adam Lanza forced his way into the classroom, and first shot Rosseau in the face. He then shot all but one of the first-graders in the class. Only one girl in Grace's first grade class survived by faking to be dead.

Obama's Speech
At the end of his speech on January 16, 2013 announcing his executive decisions to curb gun violence, President Barack Obama invoked Grace's memory to push for gun control:

"When I visited Newtown last month, I spent some private time with many of the families who lost their children that day. And one was the family of Grace McDonnell. Grace's parents are here. Grace was seven years old when she was struck down – just a gorgeous, caring, joyful little girl. I'm told she loved pink. She loved the beach. She dreamed of becoming a painter. And so just before I left, Chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings, and I hung it in my private study just off the Oval Office. And every time I look at that painting, I think about Grace. And I think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all, I think about how, when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now – for Grace. For the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give. For the men and women in big cities and small towns who fall victim to senseless violence each and every day. For all the Americans who are counting on us to keep them safe from harm. Let's do the right thing. Let's do the right thing for them, and for this country that we love so much."