Just lately, I attempted to image town of Uvalde, Texas, 15 years from now celebrating Might 24 with a group stroll, balloons, tailgating and a spring school soccer recreation. I couldn’t do it.
However that’s what we did in Blacksburg this yr to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the shootings at Virginia Tech. Whilst those occasions have been top-notch and the vibe was once amusing, the ambience on campus felt premature. I’d love to suggest that we reevaluate the best way we bear in mind the occasions of April 16, 2007 in Blacksburg.
I perceive the residing have to transport on. I perceive everybody doesn’t proportion the serious reminiscences of that day: the blood and scents of Norris Corridor, the panic from ready to listen to from family members, the nightmares, the attending of funerals and the dealing with a surreal tragedy underneath the scrutiny of the sector’s media. I perceive once a year coming in combination as a group to keep in mind. I don’t perceive commemorating the taking pictures of 32 other people and the wounding of 17 others with a pep-rally-type setting.
What if we use April sixteenth as a teachable second? The information our group can get a hold of are unending: An afternoon of mirrored image? An afternoon of forgiveness? An afternoon of therapeutic? Or an afternoon we use to check-in with our steel well being?
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There are 364 different days that we in Blacksburg can come in combination as a group to have a good time existence and feature amusing. I’m suggesting, on the other hand, on April 16, we reevaluate our tone in remembering the April 16, 2007 shootings and imagine converting it from festive to in all probability one thing extra introspective.
Elizabeth Sorensen, Virginia Tech alumni, Blacksburg
