Spring Break
Injured Va. Tech students mark 2nd anniversary
Sue Lindsey The Associated Press
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: News
|
With memories of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history still fresh in their minds, they and many of the other students hurt that day returned to campus Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the slayings.
Carney, who graduated in December, ran a 3.2-mile race to honor the 32 people killed April 16, 2007, by student Seung Hui-Cho, who also took his own life.
"This is where it matters," she said as she and a friend prepared to run.
O'Dell, who walked the course, called the experience bittersweet.
"We're celebrating their lives, but remembering, too," he said. "It's difficult, but I think it's important."
Engineering student Fred Cook jumped out a second-story window in Norris Hall as his professor, Liviu Librescu, was gunned down while he barred Cho from entering his classroom. He hurt his ankle, but took up running when he recovered and participated in Thursday's race.
"Not a day goes by that we don't think about it," Cook said. "This increased sense of awareness by everyone certainly makes it more acute for us."
Most of the 12 injured students still on campus joined about 4,300 people who raced around the main section of campus on the bright, sunny morning. The event began with the release of balloons - 32 white, followed by hundreds in the school colors of maroon and orange - and chants of "Let's Go, Hokies."
The mood was upbeat as students crowded around a table to sign a message banner before the race.
Suzanne Grimes, whose son Kevin Sterne was injured, was impressed that nearly all of the runners were students, some of whom weren't on campus two years ago.
"They came out and showed their respect," she said.
Be the first to comment on this story