| 15 April 2008
Today, we remember those friends we lost one year ago. Last year, we reflected on things we’d learned. After a year, there are things we should always remember.
Remember those that personally helped. Families. Close friends. Random strangers that offered condolences. Old friends that had grown out of touch.
Remember those kids that gave up their weekends to drive 5 hours from another school, just to stand on the Drillfield with you to say that they care.
Remember that one guy you knew from high school that changed his picture on Facebook to the black ribbon, and remember that you were the only person he knew that went to Tech.
Remember that random school you hadn’t heard of that held a candlelight vigil, and probably will again tonight. Remember all those rival schools that did the same.
Remember how the country embraced the Hokie Nation. Hokies in Florida, California, and Delaware walked outside and saw flags at half staff. Thoughts and prayers were offered worldwide. It’s tough to fall with millions of people behind you.
Remember these things because tragedy will continue touch your life and the lives around you. Remember how much those small gestures meant to you. They will mean just as much when you offer them to someone else.
Remember that there’s always a plan. There was a plan when one man survived the Holocaust. There is a plan for everyone.
Remember the first football game. It was freaking ECU, and the place was absolutely rocking. It’s doubtful that there is more fitting tribute one can imagine.
Remember when the country saw what we all knew already: that the Tech community was different, somehow. We knew it as freshmen. We knew it at graduation. We knew that it just couldn’t be like this everywhere.
And now it has been a year. Things are undoubtedly different, but they are also better.
It’s not that we’ve gotten over it; we’ll never get over it. We will never forget. We still think about it daily. We will always be sad, but we continue to stay strong. Some of us still feel guilty that we weren't there when it happened. Or that it happened and we didn't stop it. Or that we're still here while 32 friends are not. And it's all understandable. And everyone is still here to help.
But we are doing better. We still miss our friends, but we are stronger. And just as we honor those we lost remembered at War Memorial, we will honor those we lost remembered in front of Burruss. We continue to honor them in the way we make the Virginia Tech community as special for the next generation as it was, and is, for us.
In April, people wondered if this would define Virginia Tech. We knew it wouldn’t. We know it hasn’t. And we know it won’t. What has defined us, as it always had, is the Hokie Nation itself. From future Hokies, new freshmen, alumni, families, friends, fans, and everyone in between. We are the ones that define Virginia Tech and the Hokies. We always have been and always will be.
We are ALL Virginia Tech. We are the Hokies.
Remember those that personally helped. Families. Close friends. Random strangers that offered condolences. Old friends that had grown out of touch.
Remember those kids that gave up their weekends to drive 5 hours from another school, just to stand on the Drillfield with you to say that they care.
Remember that one guy you knew from high school that changed his picture on Facebook to the black ribbon, and remember that you were the only person he knew that went to Tech.
Remember that random school you hadn’t heard of that held a candlelight vigil, and probably will again tonight. Remember all those rival schools that did the same.
Remember how the country embraced the Hokie Nation. Hokies in Florida, California, and Delaware walked outside and saw flags at half staff. Thoughts and prayers were offered worldwide. It’s tough to fall with millions of people behind you.
Remember these things because tragedy will continue touch your life and the lives around you. Remember how much those small gestures meant to you. They will mean just as much when you offer them to someone else.
Remember that there’s always a plan. There was a plan when one man survived the Holocaust. There is a plan for everyone.
Remember the first football game. It was freaking ECU, and the place was absolutely rocking. It’s doubtful that there is more fitting tribute one can imagine.
Remember when the country saw what we all knew already: that the Tech community was different, somehow. We knew it as freshmen. We knew it at graduation. We knew that it just couldn’t be like this everywhere.
And now it has been a year. Things are undoubtedly different, but they are also better.
It’s not that we’ve gotten over it; we’ll never get over it. We will never forget. We still think about it daily. We will always be sad, but we continue to stay strong. Some of us still feel guilty that we weren't there when it happened. Or that it happened and we didn't stop it. Or that we're still here while 32 friends are not. And it's all understandable. And everyone is still here to help.
But we are doing better. We still miss our friends, but we are stronger. And just as we honor those we lost remembered at War Memorial, we will honor those we lost remembered in front of Burruss. We continue to honor them in the way we make the Virginia Tech community as special for the next generation as it was, and is, for us.
In April, people wondered if this would define Virginia Tech. We knew it wouldn’t. We know it hasn’t. And we know it won’t. What has defined us, as it always had, is the Hokie Nation itself. From future Hokies, new freshmen, alumni, families, friends, fans, and everyone in between. We are the ones that define Virginia Tech and the Hokies. We always have been and always will be.
We are ALL Virginia Tech. We are the Hokies.
GO HOKIES!!!
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