As we’re still reeling from Monday’s news in Boston and as we try to sort out the why and the what, we pause today to remember another horrible day.
Today, April 16, 2013, marks six years since that fateful day when 32 students and faculty were killed by a deranged madman.
We remember:
Emily J. Hilscher, 19, a freshman from Woodville in Rappahannock County, Virginia
Ryan Clark, 22, a senior from Martinez, Georgia.
Ross Abdallah Alameddine, 20, a sophomore from Saugus, Massachusetts.
Brian Bluhm, a graduate student from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Austin Cloyd, a freshman from Blacksburg, Virginia.
Matthew Gwaltney, from Chester, Virginia, United States.
Caitlin Hammaren, 19, a sophomore from Westtown, New York.
Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, a graduate student from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
Rachael Elizabeth Hill, 18, a freshman from Richmond, Virginia.
Matthew La Porte, 20, a freshman from Dumont, New Jersey.
Jarrett Lane, a senior from Narrows, Virginia.
Henry Lee, a freshman from Roanoke, Virginia.
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan, 34, a postgraduate student from Medan, Indonesia.
Lauren McCain, 20, of Hampton, Virginia.
Daniel Patrick O’Neil, a graduate student from Lincoln, Rhode Island.
Juan Ramon Ortiz, 26, a graduate student from Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Minal Panchal, 26, a graduate student from Mumbai, India.
Daniel Pérez Cueva, 21, a student from Lima, Peru.
Erin Peterson, 18, a freshman from Centreville, Virginia.
Michael Pohle, 23, a senior from Raritan Township, New Jersey.
Julia Pryde, 23, a graduate student from Middletown, New Jersey.
Mary Karen Read, 19, a freshman from Annandale, Virginia.
Reema Joseph Samaha, 18, a freshman from Centreville, Virginia.
Leslie Sherman, 20, a sophomore from Springfield, Virginia.
Maxine Turner, a senior from Vienna, Virginia, United States.
Nicole White, a junior from Carrollton, Virginia.
Christopher Jamie Bishop, 35, Instructor, Foreign Languages and Literatures.
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, Instructor, Foreign Languages. A French instructor from Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Kevin Granata, 45, Professor, Engineering Science & Mechanics.
Liviu Librescu, 76, Professor, Engineering Science & Mechanics, and Holocaust survivor. Killed while holding off the shooter so his students could escape out the window.
G. V. Loganathan, 51, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following proclamation:
Virginia Tech Remembrance Day
WHEREAS, on the morning of April 16, 2007, a tragedy of immense magnitude and senselessness befell the campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and
WHEREAS, the lives of 32 individuals from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University were hastily taken, leaving absences that will never be filled and a profound sense of sorrow in the lives of those impacted; and
WHEREAS, the community continues to mourn those who perished, we also honor those individuals wounded as they individually and collectively strive to prevail through this tragedy; and
WHEREAS, we recognize and thank local, state, and federal first responders who courageously answered the call of duty in an effort to prevent the further loss of life; and
WHEREAS, the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut once again highlights the need to continue to work to ensure safe educational environments at all levels; and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s School and Campus Safety Taskforce is working to review and strengthen security practices in all of Virginia’s schools and on all campuses, building upon the good work that has already been done in our Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia join with those from across the country and around the world in their thoughts and prayers to honor the cherished memories of those who lost their lives and those wounded;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert F. McDonnell, do hereby recognize April 16, 2013 as VIRGINIA TECH REMEMBRANCE DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.