NEWTOWN, Conn.—Bouquets of flowers floated counterclockwise in the waters of the circular memorial pool, passing the engraved names of the 20 first graders and six educators killed a short distance away at Sandy Hook Elementary School nearly 10 years ago.

A memorial to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, in Newtown, Conn., on Nov. 13, 2022. Bryan Woolston/AP Photo