Hero teacher is honored in L.I. hometown

A TEACHER WHO sacrificed himself to protect his students during the massacre in Parkland, Fla., was hailed as a hero Wednesday in his Long Island hometown.

About 300 people attended a candlelight vigil for Scott Beigel, who grew up in Dix Hills, Suffolk County. The event came on the same day students walked out of schools across the country to protest the scourge of gun violence.

The 35-year-old teacher reportedly rushed students into his classroom at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and was killed before he could take cover, becoming one of 17 fatalities. He’d worked at the school for just six months.

Scott’s mother, Linda Beigel Schulman, 63, vowed to fight for gun control until “no kid has to fear going to school.”

Her son “may have died senselessly,” she said. “Not in vain.”

Attendees at Huntington Town Hall shared her commitment to universal background checks and raising the minimum age of gun purchases from 18 to 21.

“His death, his heroism, will change our country and save many, many lives, and that will be his legacy,” Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone said.

Rabbi Stephen Moss spoke as dozens of candles were lit in the darkened room. “This nation under God must do all it can” to reduce gun violence, he said. “This is the destiny that lies ahead. May we be able to succeed,” he concluded.

The “Amen.” crowd replied