State senators paused Thursday afternoon to remember the nine victims who were killed this week in a tragedy at a Manchester liquor wholesaler.
The Senate convened in a special session to override a campaign finance reform bill that had been vetoed by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell. But before discussing the veto override shortly after 3 p.m., the senators talked about those who had been killed.
Sen. Mary Ann Handley, a Democrat who represents Manchester and nearby towns, requested a moment of silence for "a truly dreadful event in which nine people went to work and are now dead.''
"Nobody goes to work on an August morning thinking what happened is going to happen,'' Handley said on the Senate floor. "I ask, Mr. President, that we remember those who are dead, those who are wounded, their families and friends.''
Sen. Gary LeBeau, a longtime resident of East Hartford who also represents South Windsor and other communities, noted that several of those who died lived in his district. He attended the memorial service Wednesday night at St. Margaret Mary's Church in South Windsor.
Some of the victims were "terrific, wonderful people who gave to the community who volunteered as soccer coaches, Little League coaches ... always giving.''
"There was true heroism going on there. People risked their lives to save others, and they died,'' LeBeau said on the Senate floor. "It wrenches your heart out of your chest. Some of these people had young kids, and they've lost their dads.''
"I don't think there is a place that I know of that has better relations of business and their employees than Hartford Distributors,'' LeBeau said of the employees and the owners, the Hollander family. "They've contributed to my campaigns. They're wonderful people. They've contributed to virtually every charity in the Hartford area.''