Fairfield mourns with Newtown: Vigil set Monday

Town officials plan to conduct a vigil Monday evening to mourn the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

The Friday tragedy claimed the lives of 20 first-graders, all 6 and 7 years old, and six school employees, including the principal.

The town-sponsored vigil in Fairfield, like dozens planned around the region in the aftermath of the shootings, will be a candlelight service at dusk -- 5 p.m. at Sherman Green, corner of Post and Reef roads.

Local clergy are expected to participate.

In a statement announcing the vigil on the town's Facebook page, officials said: "The Board of Selectmen understands that it is important that the community have the opportunity to come together as a whole to grieve, as well as to support the survivors of the tragedy and our own first responders who were there in Newtown."