Sandy Hook victims mourned for lives cut short
USA TODAY
Published 6:24 p.m. ET Dec.16, 2012 - Updated 1:01 a.m. ET Dec. 18, 2012

Jessica Rekos, 6

Horse-lover Jessica Rekos had asked Santa for cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat. But she won't receive either.

"Jessica loved everything about horses," her family said in statement that was posted by The New York Times. "She devoted her free time to watching horse movies, reading horse books, drawing horses, and writing stories about horses."

Jessica will be remembered as "a creative, beautiful little girl who loved playing with her little brothers, Travis and Shane," the family said in the statement sent to the Times. "She spent time writing in her journals, making up stories, and doing 'research' on orca whales – one of her passions after seeing the movie Free Willy last year. She said her dream was to see a real orca. Thankfully her dream was realized in October when she went to SeaWorld."

Jessica was the first born child of Luke Rekos and Krista Lehmann Rekos. The parents received an outpouring of support in the wake of the horrific news.

Former students of Krista's -- she is a sixth grade teacher in Bridgeport, Conn. -- posted about their sorrow on social media and talked of how she was a favorite teacher.

Luke's alma matter, La Salle University in Philadelphia, tweeted out condolences and asked that people keep Rich and Krista in their prayers.

Friends and family updated their profile pictures on Facebook to include images of Jessica.