Virginia Tech to mark 2013 Day of Remembrance
Remembering the 32 who lost their lives six years ago and affirming the values of community characterize Virginia Tech’s 2013 Day of Remembrance events.
As in previous years, the Day of Remembrance will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, with the ceremonial candle lighting at the April 16 Memorial located in front of Burruss Hall. The names of the 32 individuals who lost their lives on April 16, 2007, will be read out loud to honor and remember their vibrant lives, followed by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets standing in watch for the first 32 minutes of the day.
Later that morning, a state-wide moment of silence will be observed at 9:43 a.m. State flags on campus will be at half-staff throughout the day.
Other “Expressions of Remembrance” will be held Tuesday, including opportunities for quiet reflection and exhibits of memorials, tributes, and gifts received in 2007. Information on these and other events will be posted on the We Remember website as details are confirmed.
Also on Tuesday, members of the Virginia Tech and New River Valley communities are invited to a community picnic beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the Drillfield. Food from local vendors will be provided, however, all participants are encouraged to bring additional food and picnic blankets.
The 2013 Day of Remembrance will conclude when the ceremonial candle is extinguished at 11:59 p.m. Corps members will again stand in watch for 32 minutes prior to the extinguishing, and once the light is extinguished, the candle will be carried back into Burruss Hall, representing the commitment to never forget.
Student organizers elected not to hold a formal candle light vigil Tuesday evening.
Other related events will be held on Saturday, April 13. For the fifth consecutive year, Virginia Tech will host the 3.2-Mile Run in Remembrance in Blacksburg. This year’s event will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, rain or shine. Participants will start on the Drillfield near War Memorial Gym and finish on near the April 16 Memorial across from Burruss Hall.
Preregistration for this event is strongly encouraged; visit the Department of Recreational Sports website for registration and event information.
Also on Saturday, the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second floor of Norris Hall. At 7:30 p.m., Virginia Tech’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble will present the Remembrance through the Arts Showcase at Squires Student Center.
Both events are free and open to the public.
Virginia Tech alumni chapters across the United States often organize community service projects or 3.2-mile runs to extend of Day of Remembrance observances. Confirmed events will be posted to the We Remember website.
Free public parking for all events in Blacksburg is available in the Perry Street lots and parking garage, located off Prices Fork Road.
Planning for the 2013 Day of Remembrance is being led by the April 16 Student Planning Committee made up of representatives from nine student groups and an at-large member from the student body. Organizations represented on the planning committee are the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Council of International Student Organizations, Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Panhellenic Council, Residence Hall Federation, Student Alumni Associates, Student Government Association, and Students Against Violence.
Event logistics are being managed by an implementation committee composed of university staff from service departments across campus and coordinated by the Office of Alumni Relations.
