BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — In honor of the students and faculty who lost their lives during a mass shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, the school is hosting its 2024 Day of Remembrance.
On Saturday, April 13, Hokies will gather on campus to remember 27 students and five staff members who were killed during the shooting spree. Starting at 9 a.m., hundreds of walkers and runners will take on the 3.2-mile Run in Remembrance.
Rain or shine, participants will take their mark in front of Patton Hall and pass by landmarks including The Grove, Lane Stadium, and the Virginia Tech Pylons. The run will end at the April 16 Memorial. Participants who can’t attend the event in person, are encouraged to Virtual participants are encouraged to share photos on social media using the #VT32Run on social media platforms.
On April 16, Virginia Tech will host a candle-lighting ceremony at 12:01 a.m. at the April 16 Memorial.
Representatives of the student body will light the candle and the names of all 32 Hokies who lost their lives on April 16 will be read. Members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will stand watch for 24 hours after the candle is lit.
A wreath-laying ceremony and moment of silence will begin at 9:43 a.m. The school says students members of Virginia Tech’s Rescue Squad will carry wreaths to the memorial. President Tim Sands and Laura Sands and Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Cyril Clark will then place the wreaths on the memorial.
The ceremonial candlelight will be extinguished and carried back to Burruss Hall at 11:59 p.m.
April 16 marks 17 years since the mass shooting shook the community. It is also one of the deadliest school shootings in United States history.
For more details about university events during the day, visit Virginia Tech’s, We Remember website.
