VA21 Vigil

9:00PM: a small group has stayed gathered around the Mason statue, standing before a wreath and quietly placing their own candles and flowers. Though this group is far smaller, but all the same is quiet and respectful. The only sound is the gentle fall of water from the statue.

All stand in respect and silence to honor the memories of those students who fell.

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil [4]

7:48: We Are Virginians performed and written by Laura Mays.

The song is soft low and perfectly fitting, with lyrics that touch the moment exactly. Right now, as the state, and indeed the world, stands and watches us and our reactions, it is our unity, the same unity displayed by the hundreds standing here in the growing cold, holding their candles close. Tonight, the nation is made of men and women who are all Virginians.

And for us? We stand as Hokies.

7:53: Dr. Maurice Scherrens returns to the stand. "Raise it as high as you can, I know that they will see it. We love you Tech."

A slow and solemn rendition of Taps, played by Patrick O'Connel reverberates, strong, above the crowd. Ever so slowly, all walk down to the the Mason statue, to lay flowers in the memory of those who died.

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil [3]

7:39: "Light this candle."

Ross Alameddine
Jamie Bishop
Brian Bluhm
Ryan Clark
Austin Cloyd
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Kevin Granata
Matt Gwalney.
Calin Hammaren
Jeremy Herbstritt
Rachael Hill
Emily Hilscher
Matthew La Porte
Jarrett Lane
Henry Lee
Liviu Librescu
G.V. Loganathan
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Lauren McCain
Daniel O'Neil
Juan Ramon Ortiz
Minal Panchal
Daniel Perez Cueva
Erin Peterson
Michael Pohle
Julia Pryde
Mary Read
Reema Samaha
Waleed Shaalan
Leslie G. Sherman
Maxine Turner
Nicole Regina White.

Each name is enunciated, each name sees hundreds of candles. They glow, some dimly, some brightly, but all the same they stand as light to represent those sparks that were lost. Almost everyone is standing, candle in hand, and it is quiet; all but the names, still echoing into the wind.


Photo by Courtney Erland

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil [2]

7:21: Thomas Epps performs a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace to a somber audience. The American flag stands still directly behind him.

7:25: "I pray that you would all keep the victims and the families of the victims in your thoughts and prayers […] for as long as they feel it is necessary and you feel it is necessary." said President Merten. "Be vigilant in all you do, not only for yourself but for all the members in your community. […] Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

7:27: The Anointed Voices of Unity, Mason's Gospel Choir, stands in front of the stage. Their voices and refrain echo down the campus.

7:33: The Campus Ministry Association Representing: Bahai, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Orthodox have taken the stage as one. Their first representative begins to talk about faith in a broken world. "We talk to god, whose love offers hope. […] release our anger over the murder […] we come face to face with our emptiness and know that god cares. […] we come to comfort and support each other in our common loss." Each representative comes in turn. Quoting from their religious texts: "Let us pray."

"Let us carry the memories of our teachers, of our friends."

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil

Tonight, people began to gather at the area outside the JC, gathering under tents with flowers, signing letters and notes of care. A young child is standing next to me, giving out ribbons. Soft and slow music is playing over the speakers while I stand in the fading light. Already the number of people here is far more then the number at the previous vigil and, though some students simply pass through on their way to dinner or class, for the great majority the attitude is the same. A somber gathering of people. In all ways, people are leaning on each other tonight, be it physical or emotional. It seems that, in some ways, the gap between now and the tragedy of this monday is infinite. That is part of the reason why people are here today I suspect. It is not only to honor the memories of those lost, but also to make sure we all remember the 33 who died.

7:10PM: A lot of groups are here, along with a far better setup resulting from the advance planning that went into this event. The crowd grows with ever minute, while people are waiting for the first speaker to take the Mason podium.

7:14: The first speaker takes the stage. Dr. Maurice Scherrens. He speaks to a huge crowd which is completely quiet. "It makes me mad [...] All we can do know is keep those victims in our thoughts and prayers. [...] A bad thing happened to great people at a great university and I don't know why. [...] I still feel the disbelief, the anger, the sorrow. […] I know there must be something here we are supposed to learn." 'A bad thing happened to great people at a great university and I don't know why,' Dr. Scherrens pronounces the refrain over and over. "Live today as if you were going to die tomorrow […] Their death has told us that we must act." Dr. Scherrens talks of how we must live "passionately instead of passively," and his words are like poetry. "A bad thing happened to great people at a great university and I will never know why."

7:20: The student body president and president-elect have taken the stage. Al-Mudallal reminds us to not let our perceptions bias us, while Shelnutt reminds us of the essential properties of our security.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Virginia community tonight," the president-elect said.