Josephine Gay was known as “Joey” to family and friends whom she was excitedly looking forward to hosting at her birthday party, which, although she had actually turned seven years old on December 12th, was planned for that Saturday, December 15th, but was never held because she and her classmates and teacher were shot to death on Friday, December 14th. In a written statement, her parents, Bob and Michele Gay, wrote, “It will help us if others know what a special person she was and how she inspired everyone she met. Joey was autistic and severely apraxic. She could not speak, yet she touched the lives of so many around her: teachers, therapists, friends, neighbors, all loved and cherished her. Joey was social and affectionate; she smiled, she loved hugs, and she even had a wonderful sense of humor. Her spirit was indomitable. She participated in rigorous therapy and treatment on a daily basis without complaint. She loved to play with her Barbie dolls, iPad, and computer, swim, swing, and be anywhere her sisters were. Josephine loved the color purple… She rarely left the house without wearing something purple. After her passing, many friends who visited wore purple clothing to honor her. On Saturday a family friend tied purple balloons on the mailboxes on our street, and on Sunday the neighborhood children and her sisters and cousins released purple balloons with written messages of love to her in heaven. We will not let this tragedy define her life. Instead, we will honor her inspiring and generous spirit…”

Please visit Facebook's "Protect the Children Day" Page @ https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Protect-the-Children-Day/479035065482629 and join us in asking President Obama and the US Congress to declare December 14th "Protect the Children Day" in honor of those murdered at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, by signing the petition @ http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/protect-the-children-day/ as well as helping us to promote it in any way you can.

Thank you.