The village will hold a community candlelight vigil for the victims of the Newton, CT, on Dec. 27 on the Village Green.

The holiday lights on the Village Green will go dark for 27 minutes honoring the 20 children, six teachers, and shooter's mother, who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Newtown, CT shootings.

Read Newtown, CT, Patch's complete coverage of the Sandy Hook School shootings.

"All over this country people are in tears. You see the faces of little children, you htink about those teachers and how hard they fought to protect them, you think about these families, Christmas, the pain must be unbearable for them," Mayor Dave Heilmann said. "I have four children under 10 at home. I cannot imagine dropping them off at school and one of them not coming home."

Families are invited to come to the Village Green at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, to remember the lives lost in Newtown, CT. The village is also collecting cards and letters of support to be sent to residents of Newtown.

"A collective mailing from one community to another just may provide some comfort in their time of need," the mayor said in a news release.

Mayor Heilmann is also encouraging local residents to shut off their Christmas lights at home for 27 minutes on the night of the community vigil.

"Perhaps families across Illinois will join us for 27 minutes by having vigils in their communities, or turning the lights off at home for 27 minutes," he said. "Together let's send up those prayers. These famlies need them."

Oak Lawn's candlelight vigil for the Newtown, CT, shooting victims will start at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27, on the Village Green at Cook and Dumke. Residents are encouraged to drop off cards and letters of support that will be sent collectively to Newton, CT.