President Obama reads names of children killed at Sandy Hook shooting President Barack Obama speaks at an interfaith vigil for families of the victims as well as families from Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 16, 2012 at Newtown High School, Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-six people were shot dead, including twenty children, after a gunman identified as Adam Lanza opened fire in the school. He then killed himself. NEWTOWN, Conn., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- President Obama went to Connecticut Sunday to console the families of those killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Speaking at the vigil in Newtown High School, the president drew sobs and tears from the packed auditorium when he solemnly read the names of all 20 children who were among those killed in the Friday attack. Lighted candles in tumblers placed in front of the podium represented the shooter's victims, which also included six adults. But Obama also elicited laughter when he spoke about how the school children were "dutifully following instructions as young children sometimes do" and again when he told how one small child said, it was OK because he knew karate. People stood and applauded loudly when Obama finished speaking and the president stood at the side of the stage and waved his hand several times before exiting alone from the back of the stage. At quiet points during the service, the hush was broken by the cries of restless small children and babies. Outside the school, an overflow crowd of people, huddled in blankets and holding candles, listened to the service on a speaker. The service was multi-faith, and included a pianist playing "Amazing Grace," "Lord of the Dance" and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." First responders who attended were greeted by a standing ovation and some cheers from the crowd as they filed into the auditorium. The White House, according to custom, did not reveal any details of the president's private meetings with first responders and families of the victims. Before the service started, there was a buzz in the auditorium as adults stood in small groups, talking to one another, with some are crying, embracing and holding each other close. Several small groups of children also were on hand, with some talking happily with friends, a stark contrast to the emotions shown by the grownups. Some children wore "Sandy Hook School" sweat shirts or were in Scout uniform, and several held small stuffed dogs handed out at the door by the Red Cross. The president arrived on Air Force One landed at Bradley Air Force base outside Hartford at 3:53 p.m. He walked down the steps under a light drizzle and climbed aboard his sport utility vehicle for a motorcade to Newtown. A White House official said the president was the primary author of his speech and did not use a teleprompter. It was the fourth time he has represented the nation in the aftermath of such a massacre. The Washington Post said the president made similar visits to Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, Tucson in 2011 and Aurora, Colo., in July in the aftermath of a gunman's spree. The newspaper said Obama focused each time on emotion and healing, the Post said, barely mentioning the subject gun control. His mother Nancy was found dead in their home. Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy addressed the state via TV Saturday night, saying: "What's important right now is this: love, courage and compassion."