Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Candle-light Vigil
An article it from the Collegiate Times “April 16 candlelight vigil unites community, students” was a very well written article that described the candle light vigil that was held Monday night. The event was a very somber and respectful which was a proper way to honor the five year anniversary of the tragic event. Reading the article was like reliving the entire vigil because of its vivid descriptions. One main point the article makes is that the majority of students who attended the vigil were not Virginia Tech students at the time of the shooting. The article then goes on to say that it was amazing that so many students who never knew any of the victims and were not even in the same class could come together to honor the lives of those lost.
It has been mentioned to me by some of my older classmates that they were unsure whether there would be a candle-light vigil this year because the last class present on campus when the shooting occurred had graduated in 2011. I feel that the University made the right move by continuing the tradition that has existed for several years. I think it is the most proper way to honor those who were lost that day and to honor the phrase “never forget”. The event also brings the campus, students, faculty, alumni, and community members together as a single united group of people.
What was your experience with the candle-light vigil and how did it affect you as a member of the Virginia Tech community? Do you agree with the decision to continue the tradition of the candle-light vigil?
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/19683/april-16-candlelight-vigil-unites-community-students
(link to article)
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I think that the vigil was very good to have. It shows that the school still honors the victims of the shootings. It also shows how tightly knit the community of Virginia Tech is when students who were not even there still went out to show that they care about the families effected by the shootings. I hope that the school tries to make this a tradition.
ReplyDeleteThis year was the first time, as well as many others, attending the candle light Virgil. Seeing everyone come together to remember those lost in the tragedy was a moving experience. Though many of those attending were not there in 2007 we can still pay our respects as fellow Hokies. I think the Virgil should never be ended. For as long as Virginia Tech is around, the tragedy will always shape and define our University. It’s a good thing to allow students past, present and future to come together in memory of those lost of April 16, 2007. The Virgil helps to bond our community even closer together. Our community is very close for a college campus and part of what makes us Hokies, is the pledge that we will never forget. I don’t see any reason to stop the holding the Candle Light Virgil, it is out of victim’s memory that is began and that memory should be continued by future students who attend our university. We can’t do anything to change the events of April 16, 2007, but we make sure to never forget and to always keep the victims in memory. Hopefully, the tradition continues in order to share the bond that holds our community so tight to future Hokies of Virginia Tech.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it is a good idea to keep the candlelight vigil. Not too many universities have been through a situation like that. Virginia Tech has self-proclaimed “Hokie Pride”. “Hokie Pride” is that sense you get when you come here and you feel a part of a larger family. It would be a disservice to the Hokie alum and parents of those students to not continue that tradition of supporting your family. Ask yourself do you not think of 9/11 on 9/11 because as a Hokie I will always think of 4/16 the same way as that and a candle light vigil is the perfect way to show that respect that Virginia Tech is all about. GO HOKIES!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteContinuing the tradition of having a candlelight vigil is definitely a good idea. It shows the pride this school has and the support system any Hokie has. This tradition should definitely be something that goes on for a long time. Virginia Tech will always hold the reputation, atleast for the next decade or so, as the school that had the massacre that killed 32 students. As a school and community we need to remember April 16th because it will always be apart of any Hokie that comes and goes. If this tradition continues, it will allow the school to bond even more and have a better sense of community. April 16th should never be forgotten and by having this vigil we can teach any new students that Virginia Tech is a family and will always be there for you.
ReplyDeleteI unfortunately was unable to attend the vigil; but I am a true believer that the vigil should continue on for the rest of the existence of Virginia Tech. To me, the vigil isn’t just to honor the people who had passed during the tragic shooting but also to honor anyone who has dies that went to Tech. Here we have such a large emphasis of the Hokie community and having a candle lit ceremony is an opportunity to give thanks to anyone who should be honored. For instance, all of the students in the core who go on to serve their countries after graduation deserve a moment of respect and remembrance. The yearly vigil is an opportunity to do so. Although everyone that was present at Virginia Tech during the shooting is now graduated, the event will never be forgotten. To this day it affects the students at Virginia tech everyday they walk across the drill field viewing the memorial. Those lives taken will forever be part of the Hokie family, and with that I believe the vigil should be repeated for every year to come.
ReplyDeleteThe candle - light vigil was a very respectful and moving experience. It really brought all us Hokies together as a community to honor the victims. Even though many of the students were not there when this horrible event occurred, it is still a way for us to pay our respects.I believe that Virginia Tech should continue this tradition of the candle light victims, as the those victims are forever part of the Hokie family and community.
ReplyDeleteFor people outside of the Virginia Tech community and the Hokie Nation, the April 16th shootings changed the way some people viewed VT. I find this incredibly frustrating as I know many Hokies do. My oldest sister was a freshmen at VT the year after the shootings and she too was very upset by degrading comments or stereotypes people directed at VT and it students. We have never not felt safe on campus and we cannot even begin to explain what it means to be part of the Hokie Nation to anyone outside of it. Moments like the candle light vigils on campus show just a small part of the Hokie spirit to the rest of the world. Therefore I think the vigils are definitely a tradition that should keep going because they are a great to honor the students who lost their lives and ensure that even though they are no longer with us, they will never be forgotten. In addition, it allows the nation to see how a group of individuals can come together to rebuild and grow. This is an experience that can inspire students to succeed and lead better lives.
ReplyDeleteI personally was not able to attend the vigil on Monday, however I did attend the vigil for Officer Cruise earlier this year. It was one of the most moving and beautiful things I have ever seen. To see all the candles rise at once and to hear the sound of Let’s go Hokies across the drill field is enough to give you chills. In addition, I was in Professor Rinehart’s class that semester. She addressed the students on the drill field and related the incident to books we were reading in class. She really drove home the message of cherishing life and those around us. This a reminder we can all use now in again. This vigil while inspiring was also somber, as the circumstances would have it. While that moment was for mourning and honoring Officer Cruise, I think the future April 16th vigils can be used for honor the 32 students who lost their lives and to demonstrate how VT has come together and to inspire us to continue to strive to be better.
My point if view will probably differ from everyone here for one simple reason, I don't believe in morning. I have experienced some very near deaths in family and friends, and after some time I have come to realize there is no point in feeling sad over a past event. Not to say that the 32 should not be remembered, they shall, just not in such a gloomy way. As I said that is just my perspective on things and I mean no disrespect to all of those who follow more traditional customs of morning, they're just not my customs. Remember the good times you had with those who are gone and accept that life goes on.
ReplyDeleteThe candle light vigil was so amazing and a very beautiful way to honor the 32 students/ faculty who lost their lives. I felt honored to be able to go and be apart of that night. It was such a beautiful way to in a way celebrate the lives of the 32. Hearing the biographies of the students/faculty I realized that we are connected to them. All of us are. We are all HOKIES and that will stay constant! I am so happy they kept the vigil this year. Even though we weren't there or know them personally we all know what we were doing that day. Now it's our turn to show our respects to those who lost their lives and the students and faculty who were there that awful day. Also, students may come and go, but a lot of faculty were there that day. We can't forget about them. I'm so happy they kept the vigil! neVer forgeT!
ReplyDeleteI saw the candle-light vigil from my dorm however, I was not at the actual candle-light vigil. I saw some of the pictures my friends posted to facebook and I was impressed by the strong communiy that Virgina Tech has displayed in the pictures. I think the candle-light vigil is one of the defining qualities of our unique collegiate community and I think it is a very important tradition to pass onto future classes. It helps foster a since of community that all Virginia Tech students can relate to and become apart of. Despite the fact we were not all present for the event we share a connection the victims that should be honored.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I was not able to attend the candle-light vigil.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that Virginia Tech should continue the candle-light that honors the victims that died in the shootings on April 16, 2007. To not continue the candlelight vigil would be disrespectful to the victims that died, and a disservice to the Virginia Tech community. The purpose of the candlelight vigil is to not only honor in remembrance of the victims of the shootings but to bring the whole community together so that they feel part of what the Hokie community felt on that tragic day.
I went to the vigil. Personally, it did not have much of an effect on me, since I did not know any of those involved, nor has any of my family gone to VT in the past. It was a beautiful ceremony, nonetheless, and the turnout was impressive. I do believe that we are stigmatized in the outside world as "wanting attention" due to the continued vigil, however, even though that obviously isn't our intention.
ReplyDeleteFor myself the vigil showed a great sense of community and tradition. I do believe that the university made the right decision in continuing the tradition, and frankly what the outside perception is really doesn't matter. I do believe though in contrast, that in the future the vigil should be continued with the intent of steering away from tragedy and more of a honoring of the victims in addition to a declaration of Virginia Tech's unity. I do not criticize the vigil at all, it was an amazing experience. I just believe that in order for the event to be carried out as a tradition, those steps must be met. To continue the vigil means to honor and respect the victims and to remind not only Hokies, but also the rest of the world that VT is more than the cliche university
ReplyDeleteI think that it was a good decision to keep the vigil. The people who lost their lives should be remembered forever. I t isn’t something to just be forgotten because no one left was here when it happened. Faculty members from the time are still here and some student are now in grad school here.
ReplyDeleteThe candlelight vigil was a very respectful experience. Just because we weren't there at the time of the shooting doesn't mean we cant relate to the pain the students felt that day. The vigil should continue on for years to come in honor of those who lost their lives. We will never forget what happened that day, whether we experienced it in person or not. Some students lost friends or family at the time of the shooting and the vigil is a respectful way to remember them.
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