Editorial: Students reflect on Drillfield remembrance
CT Editorial Board
April 24, 2007
At 9:45 a.m. yesterday, a memorial service was held on Virginia Tech's Drillfield for the victims of last Monday's shootings. The memorial service began with the ringing of a bell, followed by 32 more rings in memory of the victims. A white balloon was released with each ring; to end the memorial service, one thousand maroon and orange balloons were released.
Thousands of students and faculty, walking crossing the Drillfield, stopped and listened to mourn the passing of their classmates and professors. The Drillfield was silent for a full ten minutes to remember the lives that were so tragically lost only a week ago. This specific memorial service was extremely meaningful for most students, the most touching of all services yet. While our campus community has been through so much in this past week, this commemorative ceremony served as a respectful reminder of those whose lives were so cruelly taken from us.
The releasing of the balloons and the ringing of the bells symbolized the need for our campus community to let go and move forward. This ceremony provided closure to some students and was an appropriate and moving way to begin the healing process for this horrific tragedy. Yesterday was a difficult day for so many students and faculty because it was the first day back to classes since Monday, April 16. With last Monday's events still heavily weighing on the minds of us all, the memorial service provided the opportunity for students to embrace their mourning and realize that there is hope for the future.
Along with the Drillfield memorial service yesterday, there was also a moment of silence at West Ambler Johnston at 7:15 a.m. for the victims of the shootings in West A.J. Together these memorial services have been essential for the Hokie nation's healing process, beginning with the convocation at Cassell Coliseum on Tuesday, April 17, which drew a crowd of over 20,000 people. Memorial services are helping to not only bring closure to so many people affected by this tragedy, but for bringing our campus closer overall.
We are appreciative to those professors who started classes late, or began them early so that students could be a part of the moment of silence on the Drillfield. It has been a week, and students are struggling to resume lives closer to normal. Yesterday's ceremony was an important step in coming to terms with our tragic loss and finding the strength to go on. Monday's remembrance gives members of the Virginia Tech community, a faith and hope for the future.