Simsbury Will Recognize Gun Violence Awareness Day By 'Wearing Orange'

SIMSBURY, CT — In honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend, the town of Simsbury will "wear orange" by lighting up Eno Memorial Hall on Friday.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is an annual recognition that falls on the first Friday of each month, according to Newsweek, and the Simsbury board of selectmen unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing June 3 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Simsbury."

Through its proclamation, the board asked town officials to light up Eno Memorial Hall as Simsbury's way of "wearing orange."

"On the first Saturday of June each year, we renew our commitment to reducing gun violence, pledging to support policies preventing firearms from getting into the wrong hands, and encouraging responsible gun ownership to keep our children and citizens safe," a post on the town's Facebook page reads.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day began in 2015 to honor what would have been the 18th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, who at age 15 was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago one week after she had performed at then-President Obama's second inauguration, Newsweek said.