A Virginia Tech cadet shields his candle from the wind at Friday's remembrance ceremony.
Sunset gave way to a candlelight-filled night as Virginia Tech commemorated and remembered three years after April 16, 2007.
Virginia Tech president Charles Steger and SGA president Brandon Carroll briefly addressed the thousands-strong audience before honoring the victims’ memories.
“It is in times of crisis that the identity and the character of an individual and institution reveals itself,” Steger said in his address.
“They are with us when we are weak, and they are supportive when we are strong,” Carroll said. “Their memories live on today.”
Patty Raun, head of the department of theater and cinema, and Scott Johnson, associate director of the Office of Recovery and Support, read all 32 names of the victims in front of thousands of members of the Tech community.
After a moment of silence, two a cappella groups, all-male “Juxtaposition” and all-female “Sensations,” performed jointly while candlelight spread over the Drillfield.
Members of the Highty-Tighties concluded the event with a rendition of “Taps” echoing from the memorial to the pylons overlooking the Drillfield.
The bells of Burruss Hall rang 32 times, concluding the event.
Freshman Christina Pitt was not a student at Tech during the shootings, but felt the event helped to make her feel more included in the community.
“It was a really good way to help students symbolize what happened… even though we weren’t here,” she said. “I hope people make sure to stop and be respectful and live their lives for the 32.”
Ed Spencer, vice-president of student affairs, agreed.
“I thought it was impressive how many people came out,” he said. “Even if they (underclassmen) weren’t here, they are part of this Hokie Nation.”
“Events like this and the 5K (3.2 for 32 Run) show the unity of the campus,” said Nathan Mack, a sophomore cadet corporal. “I pride myself on that (being a member of the corps). This was really beautiful.”
The commemoration and candlelight vigil were combined for this year’s Day of Remembrance. Both events will likely continue to be held in the future in their current form, according to provost Mark McNamee.
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At some point, we are going to have to curb the commemorations.
University of Texas no longer marks August 1 as Tower Shooting Day.
No one gets out for 9/11 every year.
What year is appropriate for retiring the candle ceremony? 2012?
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2011 would be the first year that anyone who was a freshman in 2007 would have likely graduated. Maybe that is a good time?
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Yeah. Don't get me wrong it's a beautiful tribute, but with the graduation of classes that remember the event commemorated this year, it will lose it's vividity in future student classes. I think 2011 should be the end of it.
Put a wreath out at the stones every year.
I also don't know that there should be "teach-ins" and lectures about it. There's not much o be learned from it that is rational.
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Vigil 2010
Spark to spark,
the light moves though the crowd,
as it was meant to.
Yet we in the group
are offered no cups this year,
to shield the flames.
The wind rises,
and in its wake, many lights go out,
including mine.
"Ma'am," a young man breathes,
and offers his.
"Thank you," I whisper,
now with light restored.
That simple act of kindness
does more to heal my heart
than any vaunted talk
of "moving on."
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that is so disrespectful. The candlelight vigil should be a tradition for as many years as it can last, and as far as I know it will be. To have been here on April 16th means one thing, that you were here on April 16th. There are countless numbers of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who were also affected by the tragedy even though they were not here when it happened. Many of them lost good friends and classmates on that day. And all of this talk about these seniors being te only ones left is not valid anyway, students are not the only people at this school, there are professors and other faculty members as well as the whole surrounding community which was affected as well.
Lets try and not be so self-centered about this.
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4-16 is still a raw wound for those of us whose friends died that day. "Curb" the memorials? Does that show any compassion at all? Any ability to understand the extremity of this loss, or the pain that we continue to feel?
The memorials allow us to remember the worth of the lives of those who were taken from us that day. We need to have them.
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No one is being self centered. It Is unhealthy and unnatural for society to continually mourn an event. Eventually it has to pick up and move on.
The overwhelming majority of students as of next year at Tech will not have any connection to 4.16.07. Classes are going to resume on April 16 in 2012. That is the right thing to do. To keep cancelling classes that day will inevitably lead to the embarrassing situation of most students taking off for a three day weekend to go to the beach and the like, not mourn.
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Well, it that kind of <cough> self centered attitude that will turn people away. It was begun as a voluntary gesture of grief, love, respect and remembrance. Acknowledging that such a ceremony will have less meaning to those who did not experience it or know anyone involved is not "disrespectful". After awhile it can be a "non-official" ceremony...candles are cheap and no one will begrudge them the Drillfield.
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As an Alum of VaTech, it was a great to have the opportunity to be at the memorial service this past Friday evening. Many things about it impressed me. The total silence of these gathered was amazing ... and right. The sight of the light moving across the drill field like a wave was amazing. And it was amazing to see an estimated 13,000 students take the time to show up for this very special event.
On the other side, McDonald was conspicuous in his absence. Also notable was the lack of faculty and University staff. Surely, they too could afford an hour to show their respects.
I was also dismayed that after the ceremony, President Charles Steger was waiting by the big black SUV for a three block ride to his home on campus. It was a great night, he should have walked with home along side the students. The worst that could have happened would be a student said hello or asked a question. Even if the campus police wanted to send a couple of guys as an escort, so be it. They could have walked the five paces behind while Steger connected with the student body.
I'm looking forward to next year.
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Today is the 15th anniversary of the Murrah federal building bombing in Oklahoma City, which killed 168. There are some small services, but nothing large scale, to mark the event. The Governor asked citizens just to remember that event occurred.
I have no objection to people at Tech going out and doing the candle vigil. I would hope they would show decorum and not sink into the sports chanting, which is truly inappropriate for the circumstance.
The attendance at these events will, in time, wane. And when they do, we must accept it as natural circumstance.
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The chanting doesn't show decorum? I believe the chanting symbolizes unity and togetherness of the hokie nation. Whether they are cheers typically chanted at sports events or not Many sports commentators attributed our 2008 football season as an aide to our healing. There are those out there, I'm sure, that believe using a flame or fire to commemorate the dead is wrong as well because of possible hellish symbolism but regardless it brings Hokies together and allows them to express themselves together, as a powerful unit.
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I don't think Steger lives at The Grove.
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We will neVer forgeT. Those who care about the importance of April 16th to the VT community will have a vigil every year.
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Sure you will Brandon. Give it five to ten years when you are no longer a college student and have other commitments and geographical distance from Blacksburg. Those who remember aren't going to making long trips to hold candles on a weekday work night years from now..
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Whether I am in Blacksburg or not does not mean that I will forget? I will remember in my own way and I will neVer forgeT 4.16.07.
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No one is saying that classes need to be cancelled forever and that the University must struggle to get people to attend commemoration events 50 years from now. No.
What would be the most RESPECTFUL in this situation is for people stop thinking about themselves and the "club" of students who were here and "were the only ones affected" (which is completely invalid) and for you guys to start thinking about the meaning of the rememberance events.
It seems to me that a good day to resume classes would be 2013, not 2012. If any of you remember, in 2007, April 16th was on a Monday. In 2012 it will be the first time the anniversary has fallen on a Monday. Also, 2012 will mark the fifth year since the tragedy which is symbolic. 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 50th anniversaries have always held more significance to people, whether you agree or not that is the way it is. Also, many sophomores now (Class of 2012) were very affected by what happened and it is invalid to say that they werent affected.
Resuming classes in 2013 just makes more logical sense.
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