The events of last Friday touched so many lives, well beyond the borders of Newtown, Connecticut.  This was an event that touched the hearts of millions of people around the world and together we mourn.  We mourn the innocence lost, we feel the struggle of the families who were directly affected, and each of us pulled our own families a little closer than ever before over the weekend.  We marvel at the heroism of those adults who threw themselves into danger without a thought of their own personal safety to protect the children in their care.

Over the weekend parents had to talk to their own children and answer some tough questions to the best of their ability.  The “why” is the one that may never be known, but is probably the most asked.  Some parents kept the TVs off to try and protect their children only to go to the local stores and have the kids exposed to everyone talking about Friday’s events, speculating on the “why,” trying to make sense of a senseless act.  We want to protect our children with everything in us, and as one person here always says – she wants to fold her boys up and put them in her pocket to keep them safe.  We may not be able to put them in our pockets, but we can teach them that although we live in an imperfect world, there are still things we can do to be alert and report to authorities anything that is unusual at school or in the community.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the one thing that continues to amaze and give strength is the incredible outpouring of support from throughout the world.  We have become one community behind this one small town.  As employees of a credit union we know what it means to get behind our community, so every one of us here at Tropical Financial send our thoughts and support to all those affected by this tragedy in our global community; but especially to those directly affected in Newtown.

Today we begin another new day, renewed in the comfort that we are not alone.

For more information on how to contact Tropical Financial Credit Union, please visit their listing on InSouthFlorida.com