Sandy Hook Tragedy Touches Local Business Owner

Tears welled up in Joe Nguyen’s eyes when he started talking about the 26-victim shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

“It could have been my daughter, it could have been anybody’s daughter,” he said. “So I had to honor them.” 

Cars outside honk when they pass his sign, “We love you, Sandy Hook Elementary, honk if you love them too!!!”

Nguyen created the sign and hung it outside of his business, Independent Signs at 1810 W. Irving Park Road. 

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For Nguyen, the act was all about his daughter. 

“I can’t stop reading, it’s been very emotional,” he said. “They were good kids and good students, and so is she.”

Like many, Nguyen turned on the computer when he got to work Friday and saw the tragedy unfold. He watched coverage the entire day, showing customers the live view of a helicopter hovering over the school as children were evacuated. 

His 12-year-old daughter told Nguyen to make the sign in blue and yellow, the school colors of Sandy Hook.

“We got three calls on Monday and two on Tuesday of people just saying, ‘Thank you, that’s so nice of you,’” he said.

Monday was a hard day for Nguyen, who had to send his daughter back to school. He said teachers researched gun laws with the kids and talked about where to hide if a shooter ever entered their school. 

Despite the education, Nguyen said he still felt uneasy about sending her back.

“They were just little angels,” he said.