LETTER: Aiken must press on through tragedy

This is just a note to remind Aikenites, in lieu of recent events, what this community is and always has been about. In 1997, Aiken won the All-America City Award, which recognizes communities each year for "outstanding civic accomplishments. To win, each community must demonstrate innovation, inclusiveness, civic engagement and cross sector collaboration by describing successful efforts to address pressing local challenges."

The last couple of months have pressed our community again with a challenge, and we have a choice: We can get angry about the horrible tragedies that have occurred, or we can demonstrate the character traits that won us that award 15 years ago. Let's not allow fear and paranoia to harden ourselves to each other and to strangers. Instead, let's wrap our arms around those in need: the children with abusive parents; the men and women in abusive relationships; the parents whose children make heart-breaking, life-altering choices; and the families whose loved ones have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect and serve.

Aiken, replace the negativity with a positive contribution. Let's get back to those characteristics that won us the All-America City award - inclusiveness, collaboration and engagement. We honor Sandy and Scotty, who both died doing what they loved. We honor every last one of our officers and we mourn with them. Let's commit to helping them in their task of making Aiken a better, safer place to live. We have been pressed with a challenge. Negativity breeds negativity. Can we find it in our hearts to help these families, these officers, and this community move on? It starts with each of us.

Justice will be served for those who've shaken our security. I have faith in that. I have even more faith that God will handle the rest.

Rachel Hutto

Aiken