2010 Day of Remembrance Events
The 2009 steering committee set the tone for the 2010 Day of Remembrance and beyond. The committee members expressed their desire for an academic focus for Friday, April 16, 2010. They felt it was important to honor the pursuit of scholarship clearly evident in the lives of those who died on April 16, 2007 at Virginia Tech. In that spirit, the following schedule of public events will be held on the Virginia Tech campus that day. Please check this site often as more events are confirmed and added to the schedule. See the Related Events section.
- Midnight: Ceremonial Candle Lighting – April 16 Memorial
A candle will be lit by members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and representatives of the student body at midnight. The Corps of Cadets will stand guard for 32 minutes. The candle will remain lit for 24 hours. - 8 AM: 3.2 mile Run in Remembrance – Virginia Tech Campus
A 3.2-mile Run in Remembrance will start at Alumni Mall near the North Main Street entrance of campus and finish on the Drillfield near the April 16 Memorial. Participants may run or walk. Commemorative T-shirts will be provided to the first 4,000 people who register online. There is no cost to walk or run in the event. - 9:30 AM: Photo of 3.2 on Drillfield
- All day: Spaces for peaceful reflection
Download descriptions and a campus map that detail the locations for specific areas that will available for quiet reflection throughout the day. - 8 AM – 7 PM: Woven Together: April 16 Memorial Textiles – Squires Perspective Gallery
The Fabric of the world community of “Hokies” that honored the victims of 4/16 with their hearts and hands will be on display for the week of April 16. Perspective Gallery’s April 16 display serves to honor the victims and celebrate the ties that bind the Hokie Community. - 11 AM – 1 PM: Community Picnic – Drillfield
An event designed to embrace the relationships between colleagues, friends, and family both on and off campus. - 11 AM – 5 PM: (unless otherwise noted): Expressions of Remembrance
- Connections: A Community Arts Project – GLC Multipurpose
With engagement as the main goal, “Connections: A Community Arts Project” seeks to provide relational understanding of differences, diversities, similarities, and possibilities that can be strengthened. “Connections” brings together artists (students and local artists), architects, researchers, filmmakers, engineers, and faculty from different departments across Virginia Tech and Blacksburg to create an art exhibition of an ancient Indian fable. Following the art exhibit, the participants will have opportunities to interact with artists and among other community members, to create collaborative art, be part of story circles, and engage in other meaningful activities. - Memorial Exhibit and Slide Show – Holtzman Alumni Center
The Virginia Tech Alumni Association will display in the Alumni Museum selected memorial items presented to Virginia Tech in the days and weeks following April 16, 2007. A memorial slideshow, depicting images taken around the world that represented the outpouring of support after the tragedy, will be shown in Assembly Hall. - Healing through Arts – Squires Old Dominion Ballroom
Dragonfly artist Rebecca Ronesi will feature three stations for participants to express their thoughts and feelings by creating art in various media. The art pieces Rebecca created for the Day of Remembrance will also be featured. - A Community of Learners, a Legacy of Achievement – Second Floor (Learning Commons) Newman Library
This display highlights the academic achievements and interests of the 32 victims of the April 16, 2007 tragedy, and their shared legacy which will be cherished and celebrated for years to come. Through their academic and professional pursuits, each contributed in a unique way to the indomitable culture of our Hokie Nation. Included in the display are photographs, publications, program descriptions, representations of academic awards/citations, and a variety of other items that showcase various achievements and interests. - Video of the April 17, 2007 Convocation – Auditorium, Graduate Life Center
A videotape of the convocation will be shown in its entirety throughout the afternoon. - 11 AM – 4 PM: Hokie Stone: An Event of Student Shared Knowledge – Squires, Colonial Hall
Presentations from various academic units will be given to showcase student research, involvement, cultural experiences, and general scholarship. The event will begin with an introduction remembering those who lost their lives and honoring those who were injured on April 16, 2007. The focus will be on the outstanding work occurring around the Blacksburg campus and the world by Virginia Tech students. - 11 AM - 6 PM: BreakZONE Free Play
- 1 PM – 8 PM: Reflection and Music – War Memorial Chapel
The chapel will be available throughout the afternoon and evening for private reflection and remembrance. Musicians will perform from 1 PM - 5 PM In addition, candles will be available to light in memory of lost loved ones. - 1 PM - 3 PM: 2nd floor Norris Hall Open House
Lab tours will be given between 1 PM - 2 PM The Center for Peace Studies & Violence Prevention, the Dr. Liviu Librescu Student Engagement Center, and the Norris Hall Art Gallery will be open from 1 PM - 3 PM - 4 PM: A Story of Community Resilience: A Panel Discussion – Lyric Theatre
Representatives from the Virginia Tech faculty and Blacksburg community will share research and stories regarding personal and community resilience. Panel members and their areas of expertise are: Dr. Russell Jones (individual reactions to traumatic events), Dr. Rosemary Blieszner (personal resiliency), Dr. James Hawdon (community resilience), Andy Morikawa, (executive director of the New River Valley Community Foundation, community in action through the HERE organization), and Dr. Scott Gellar (actively caring communities). The event will be moderated by Jim Dubinsky, director for the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships. Doors will open at 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM: University Commemoration & Candlelight Vigil – April 16 Memorial
A university-wide commemoration and candlelight vigil will be held on the Drillfield at the April 16 Memorial. The program will recognize the 32 students and faculty who lost their lives that day. The event will be coordinated by Virginia Tech students representing a variety of student organizations. Following the candlelight vigil, candles will be collected to repurpose for the 2011 candlelight vigil. - 11:59 PM: Extinguishing of Ceremonial Candle – April 16 Memorial
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will stand guard for 32 minutes prior to the 11:59 PM extinguishing. The candle will be extinguished and the light will be carried back into Burruss Hall, representing the commitment to never forget.
Related Events
The Contemporary Dance Ensemble will perform Remembrance Through Dance in honor of the 32 Hokies who lost their lives on April 16, 2007. The event is scheduled for Sunday, April 11, at 2:30 PM in Burruss Auditorium. They dedicate this performance to all who were affected by the events of April 16th. The dance community welcomes all to join them to remember those we lost and celebrate the resilience of the Virginia Tech community.
The Virginia Tech Richmond Center and the Richmond Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association will honor the victims and survivors of the April 16th tragedy with a blood drive on Friday, April 16. You are welcome to join them at the Virginia Tech Richmond Center to donate blood to support the local community and help show the resiliency of the Virginia Tech community. Help us make sure that those affected are never forgotten.
The Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association will host their third annual blood drive on Friday, April 16 from 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM at the Youth Development Center in Winchester, VA, community.
The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center will be hosting the third annual blood drive on April 16, 12 PM - 7 PM at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Help us remember and honor those who lost their lives in the tragedy on the Virginia Tech campus on April 16, 2007. Help us exceed the numbers from previous years. We need your help! Volunteers will also be invited to participate in a “Hats for Children” activity where they will make hats. These hats will be used by policemen and social services when they work with children in various circumstances.
The National Capital Region Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association will be hosting three events, two days of service April 16-17, 2010. The event will start with their annual INOVA Blood Drive at the Northern Virginia Graduate Center in Falls Church on Friday, April 16 from 3 PM – 8 PM. We will remember the victims from April 16, 2007, by donating blood for those in need in the Washington, D.C., area. Following the blood drive, please join us at sundown for a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Grad Center to honor the victims and their families. Then on Saturday at 9 AM join your fellow alumni in serving the community in honor of the victims. We will be volunteering at the D.C. warehouse of the Capital Area Food Bank helping them sort and store food products and donations.
The student chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects is sponsoring a blood drive with Inova Blood Services at the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center in Old Town Alexandria on April 16, 2010 from 12 PM – 4 PM The Blood Mobile will be in the university parking lot, accessible from Patrick Street (U.S. Route 1 North). No prior registration required. 1001 Prince Street, Alexandria, Va.
