Virginia Tech Vigil Held, Thousands Attended
Broadside News Editor John Grimsley

As the sun set Tuesday, people gathered on the drill field at Virginia Tech and lit candles to honor the victims of Monday’s shooting.

Some people cried, some people sang and some jiggled their keys. All, however, held their candles high. Virginia Tech students collected candles from area Walmarts and George Mason University students gathered nearly 2,000 candles from Northern Virginia stores to donate to the event. Students from Radford and James Madison University also attended the vigil to show their support. Students even came from as far away as New York University to show support.

Speakers at the vigil stood at a stage that had been set up in front of Burress Hall overlooking the drill field. Dr. Zenobia Hikes, vice president for Student Affairs at Virginia Tech, spoke with a message of unity to the crowd.

“We are here to grieve, but I want America and the world to see this outpouring on the Virginia Tech drill field this evening,” she said. “This is love. This is love and we appreciate it.”

Hikes thanked Hokies United, a student-led group that responds to small and large-scale tragedies, for their work in preparing for the vigil.

“We will move on from this, but it will take the strength of each other to do that,” she said. “We are a community of strength. We are a community of pride. We are a community of scholarship. We are a community of compassion. We want the world to know ‘We are Virginia Tech. We will recover, we will survive with your prayers.”

Scott Cheatham, a co-organizer of Hokies United, shared Hikes’ feeling of unity in the school community, specifically talking about the Hokie family.

“As I look around this evening, I know that I can never be alone because we have this: Our Hokie family,” he said.

He also acknowledged the support of other schools and communities.

“It is true that today we are all Hokies,” Cheatham said.

Then Cheatham and the watching mourners shared a moment of silence, followed by the candle lighting ceremony. Most of those in attendance had already lit their candles, but Cheatham asked Virginia Tech President Charles Steger and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to light their candles on the stage while “Taps” was played in the background.

Jason Thomas, a history major at Virginia Tech who first heard about the incident at work, said he enjoyed the vigil.

“It was unbelievable,” he said. “It restores your faith in humanity.”

Conor Bracken, an English major at Virginia Tech who heard about the incident while riding a bus to campus, agreed.

“It is definitely an outpouring of emotion,” said Bracken. “It really shows how strong and resilient our community is.”