Collegiate Times

Members of the Virginia Tech community gather on the drillfield for a candlelight vigil on April 16, 2009. Related gallery

A single flame lit up the night. A bagpipe cried out "Amazing Grace" from the center of the Drillfield. A community remembered again. Immersed in sound, surrounded by light.

Two years after the tragedy, the Virginia Tech community arrived in Blacksburg to continue a remembrance of the victims of April 16, 2007.

As the sun set behind Hokie Stone buildings, candles donated to the university in 2007 were distributed at the edge of the Drillfield.

"They have been in SGA storage units in Christiansburg since 2007," said SGA volunteer Bo Hart. "Companies sent candles here and they've been saved ever since."

The candles will continue to be reminders of 2007 and the tradition of the candlelight vigil.

"They're going to be melting down the candles from this year and using that for next year's major candle that we light at 12:01," said SGA volunteer Sharon Meehan. "It's also symbolic. It's like everyone is part of it, and together."

"Amazing Grace" was sung by the Enlightened Gospel Choir during the ceremony. However, a single student played it first, on a nearly empty Drillfield as the sun faded from view.

The second anniversary was a day of firsts.

The first Run for Remembrance began the ceremonies of the day, issuing the first spirited chants, and the first sign of the multitude of people who would populate the campus.

The tally of runners, the flock of balloons and the chants of "Let's go, Hokies" soared over the campus at 8 a.m.

A noon commemoration event featuring biographies and survivors was witnessed by a crowd on the Drillfield.

Many of those affected by April 16 took time to visit the newly renovated second floor of Norris Hall, finding an alternative in the Center for Peace Studies, a program hoping to create a brighter future.

Among those gathered in support were Northern Illinois students, also affected by a school shooting. Virginia Tech survivors, such as Colin Goddard, visited NIU last year, and built friendships with some students.

"NIU invited us up for their one-year anniversary," Colin Goddard said. "We met these guys on a personal level. They called us up and we were there."

Thursday, they accompanied Goddard to the second floor of Norris Hall.

"There are some guys from NIU here that we met when we were up there," Colin Goddard said. "This place will be about bringing people with similar experiences together and talking about it. I am all about it and all for it."

Finally, the community gathered once again on the Drillfield at sunset for the candlelight vigil.

After a speech by SGA President Emily Mashack, a candle was lit in honor of each victim of April 16.

Two members of the Highty-Tighties then played "Taps". One stood at the April 16 memorial, the other on the top of War Memorial Chapel.

Ending much like it began, the Drillfield erupted into a "Let's go, Hokies" chant as candles were lifted to the sky.

The two-year anniversary marked more than a Day of Remembrance for some families.

Two years was the statute of limitations for families to file lawsuits related to the April 16, 2007 shootings. On the second anniversary, two families filed suit against the state, according to multiple reports.

Only two families did not accept the $11 million settlement last year and by doing so maintained their right to file suit against the state.

The families of Julia Kathleen Pryde and Erin Nicole Peterson made use of that right on Thursday by filing suit in Fairfax County Circuit Court.

Andrew Goddard, whose son Colin Goddard was injured in Norris Hall, said the university has not been perfect, but is learning how to better deal with the families of the victims.

He said the private ceremony for only families of victims was an exceptional event.

"The service for the families was excellent," Andrew Goddard said. "I believe the university is beginning to slowly understand the needs of the families. I don't think they wanted to have anything to do with it at the beginning."

Andrew Goddard said the community is still close to the hearts of his family.

"We still want to be Hokies. We still want to be connected to the university," Andrew Goddard said. "We're still down here. We still know that this university is not defined by April 16."