Neighbor took 6 young survivors into his home

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By PAT EATON-ROBB

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) - Gene Rosen had just finished feeding his cats and was heading from his home near Sandy Hook Elementary school to a diner Friday morning when he saw six small children sitting in a neat semicircle at the end of his driveway.

A school bus driver was standing over them, telling them things would be all right. It was about 9:30 a.m., and the children, he discovered, had just run from the school to escape a gunman.

"We can't go back to school," one little boy told Rosen. "Our teacher is dead. Mrs. Soto; we don't have a teacher."

Rosen, a 69-year-old retired psychologist, took the four girls and two boys into his home, and over the next few hours gave them toys, listened to their stories and called their frantic parents.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121217/DA37Q1200.html

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Gene Rosen becomes emotional as he describes, in an interview with The Associated Press, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, that after Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, he took in six students who were sitting at the end of his driveway who had just run from the school to escape the deadly massacre. Rosen ran upstairs and grabbed an armful of stuffed animals he kept there. He gave those to the children, along with some fruit juice and sat with them as two of the students described seeing their teacher being shot. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

[Justice]

1. this is so incredibly touching.

[undeterred]

2. Thank goodness he was there.

[panAmerican]

3. God bless this man

[steve2470]

7. yes God bless this man nt

[Fumesucker]

4. He'll likely have nightmares for a while

Thank you Mr Rosen.

[Tutonic]

18. Yeah but those kids will likely have nightmares for the next 80 years.

Their minds are damaged.

[DakotaLady]

5. The visible ...

... anguish in this photo of Mr. Rosen for me hurts just to look at.

[riverwalker]

6. ...

A couple of hours after the last child left, a knock came on his door. It was a frantic mother who had heard that some children had taken refuge there. She was looking for her little boy.

"Her face looked frozen in terror," Rosen said, breaking down in tears.

"She thought maybe a miracle from God would have the child at my house," he said. Later, "I looked at the casualty list ... and his name was on it."

[julian09]

17. When did that list come out?

[KarenS]

8. ...

[Rowdyboy]

9. The last paragraph in the story too sad to express....a desperate mother who doesn't yet know

that her chid is gone. How that poor man must ache.

[leanforward]

10. the joy and heartbreak

Thank you Sir. In those hours you provided a sanctuary. The kids needed that.
Always think of the Six, but we will all grieve for the mother. Just another Grandpa.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. K&R! He's another hero...

Those poor scared kids ended up in exactly the right place. I can't even imagine what they experienced, and at such a young age, but he was the right person to help them. This is yet another tearjerker...

[YvonneCa]

15. If it were a movie...

...Mr Rosen would be the angel who disappears after helping the victims...

Inspiring story.

[littlemissmartypants]

12. Oh Jesus.

[skeewee08]

13. God bless you Mr. Rosen

[Brigid]

14. God bless you, Mr. Rosen.

May he comfort in your pain.

[uppityperson]

16. damn damn damn damn damn. k&r for a hero.

goosebumps and tears again. I hope he gets the support he needs.

[onehandle]

19. Is this worth having assault weapons and assault clips, gunfucks?

Is it?

[Pachamama]

20. Oh the pain & sorrow....it tears at the heart....

Just looking at his face - what he saw and heard from these babies.....and then to have the Mother at his door who couldnt find her child....

I am however grateful that he was there for them.....the grandfather.....

[Pachamama]

21. Oh the pain & sorrow....it tears at the heart....

Just looking at his face - what he saw and heard from these babies.....and then to have the Mother at his door who couldnt find her child....

I am however grateful that he was there for them.....the grandfather.....

[Smilo]

22. Oh Mr. Rosen, the children were guided

to you - thank you so much for your love and compassion.

I hope dear sir that you will find peace in the days to come.

Bless you sir.

[Chemisse]

23. Wonderful man. The right person at the right time for those children.

[lunatica]

24. I knew the story of Mrs. Soto's death had to have been witnessed and told by the students she saved

I guess I'm not finished crying over this.

[llmart]

25. Just saw him on the Today Show......

the poor man broke down almost immediately.

Another day, another morning where I start off in tears.

[Jennicut]

26. He was the right person at the right time for those kids.

CT is full of great neighbors and people who take care of each other. We are quieter here in New England about how we do things, we don't always seem friendly on the outside. Sometimes people accuse New Englanders and especially those of us in CT of being aloof and distant. But when you really, really need someone, we come through for each other.