Fifteen families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting have taken a national casket maker up on its offer to donate caskets for their loved ones who were killed in the Dec. 14 shooting, an employee of its Hamden office said.
Matthews Casket Co of New England in Hamden, made the offer to donate a casket for all 20 children killed in the shooting shortly after word of the tragedy got out Friday. As of Monday afternoon, the company had provided 15 caskets to the families of children killed, according to Peter Ferris, a company official.
Ferris referred comment to the Matthews Casket's public relations department, which couldn't immediately be reached. Ferris did say the company donated the caskets it because "it was the right thing to do" and not for any media recognition.
The first of the funerals for the 26 victims of the shootings — six school staff members were gunned down in addition to the students — began Monday. The funerals are expected to continue throughout the week for the remaining victims.
