Posted on April 19, 2007
Hundreds of candles, cell phones, glow sticks, flashlights and lighters punctuated the night sky on Festival Lawn Tuesday night in honor of the friends, family and faculty affected by the bloody events that unfolded Monday at Virginia Tech.
Mark Warner, vice president of student affairs, addressed the crowd of students and faculty in his father-in-law’s Hokie baseball cap.
“I wish I could take away the hurt,” he said. “But I can’t.”
Student body president Brandon Eickel said SGA organized the event because of the strong connection between the JMU and Virginia Tech communities.
“We thought it was very important to have this as quickly as we possibly could,” he said.
Warner focused his remarks on the community effort that has emerged as a result of the shootings.
“We’re here to honor all of those who have been affected by this tragedy,” Warner said. “We’re here to figure out what it’s all about and where we go from here. Tech’s healing, our healing starts tonight.”
After Warner’s address, 33 candles were lit to honor those who died, dotting the night sky with flames while Exit 245 sang “Amazing Grace.” The Madison Singers also sang a set of four songs while the crowd lit their candles.
“Before tonight I couldn’t grasp what was happening,” freshman Kelsey Ray said. “And then they started singing, and it just all rushed over me.”
Some Virginia Tech students were in attendance and were scattered among the crowd. Those that spoke expressed their gratitude for JMU’s support.
“I heard the gun shots. I saw people jumping out of the windows. I saw the bodies being carried away,” one Va. Tech student said. “Thank you for caring even though this is not your school.”
Some students said they came to JMU because it was just too difficult to stay on the Va. Tech campus.
“I just never thought there would be so much support here,” another student said. “It’s just too traumatic to be there right now.”
Students said the vigil was important because it gave them an opportunity to feel like they were doing something to help.
“I think it’s important for people who may not be able to directly assist to come here and help in some way,” senior Thomas Florio said.
Warner urged students to take full advantage of every day to honor those who died.
“The most important thing is to use the tragedy of Tech to see that we need to live each day to the fullest,” he said.
The vigil was one of many campus efforts to show support for the Virginia Tech community, including a moment of silence for the victims Tuesday afternoon.
Junior Erin Bennett was on the quad when the clock struck 2:00 and began playing the Virginia Tech alma mater.
“I’ve never heard JMU so quiet before,” Bennett said. ‘It was so eerie.”
