Letter: The Hokie Nation unites
Letter to the Editor
April 20, 2007
Nikki Giovanni said it best in her poem at the end of the convocation yesterday.
Through our blood and tears
Through all this sadness
We are the Hokies
We will prevail
We will prevail
We will prevail
We are Virginia Tech
I must say the last time I've seen this school pull together like this was 9/11. On that fateful day in September, Tech united to support those members of our community who were affected, and those in other communities that were devastated. On Monday, it wasn't a community far away that needed our help, but it was our community who needed support, and communities around the world responded resoundingly to the call.
The first steps on the path to recovery came after the above words were spoken by Nikki Giovanni on Tuesday afternoon. When Cassell Coliseum and Lane Stadium erupted with cheers of "Let's Go Hokies," the Hokie Nation stood up and declared in a united voice that our community will recover, and will return stronger than before. Granted this road to recovery will not be short, the lights of the road ahead have been lit, and we will reach the end. We are Hokies, we won't give up.
We as Hokies have endured the hardest day in our school's history. The newest members of the Hokie Nation, those who are students there now have made us alumni proud. They will be the most traumatic time of their lives, what it means to be a true Hokie.
To those that experienced a great loss on Monday, the entire Hokie Nation is with you, and is there to support you. Everyone affected is in our thoughts and prayers. We have lost great students, great academics, great friends, and great professors, as a result of the events of 4/16, but know that they are in the hearts and minds of all of your Hokie brothers and sisters, not just those in Blacksburg, but all across the globe. "We are Virginia Tech. We will prevail. We will never forget."
Phillip Meents
VT Alumnus 2005
Computer Science