Memorial Benches at the April 16 Memorial
Virginia Tech honored the community of survivors of April 16, 2007.
A ceremony was held April 15, 2010, at 4 p.m. dedicating two sitting benches — one located on each side of the April 16 Memorial in front of Burruss Hall. Charles W. Steger, president of Virginia Tech; Mark McNamee, senior vice president and provost; and representatives of the community of survivors offered remarks and officially dedicated the benches (Listen to audio from the ceremony).
The benches, which will serve as a location for personal reflection and remembrance, honor the survivors of April 16, 2007, and the resilience of the Virginia Tech community.
About the memorial benches
The bench seats are 52 inches wide, 18 inches tall, and 8 inches thick. They are made out of a special concrete mixture that simulates Virginia Tech's native limestone, Hokie Stone, and each bench weighs approximately 900 lbs. The benches are inscribed, "In Honor of the Survivors – April 16, 2007."