The 2012 Day of Remembrance activities will honor the 32 people who lost their lives on April 16, 2007. The following schedule of public events will be held on the Virginia Tech campus.
Please note: More information and details on Expressions of Remembrance will be added as plans are finalized. Please continue to check this site for the latest information.
The Research Triangle Chapter will be hosting a 3.2 for 32 Memorial Run/Walk. Join us as we kick off a month of remembrance with a 3.2 for 32 memorial run/walk in honor of fellow Hokies and friends lost in 2007. We’ll gather at Big Boss Brewery then we’ll head out to the Greenway together for the 3.2 mile run/walk. This event is open to all, and those who choose not to run or walk are still encouraged to join us at Big Boss after the run to spend time with other Hokies and friends. Saturday, April 7 at 1:30 p.m., Big Boss Brewery, 1249 Wicker Drive, Raleigh, NC, Click here to RSVP for this event
The Patrick Henry Chapter will host a Virginia Tech for Life Blood Drive at the Reynolds Homestead on April 13, 2012. To sign up, contact Lisa Martin at 276-694-7181 (ext. 22) or martinlm@vt.edu.
The First State (Delaware) Chapter will participate in a Habitat for Humanity Build on April 14, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For the last several years, we have volunteered at Habitat as part of our remembrance of the tragedy that happened at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Anyone over the age of 16 is allowed to participate, so younger Hokies are eligible to join us. We will be working on their Vandever Avenue project. Please contact Hal Schneikert to register or with questions. Chapter website - www.chapters.alumni.vt.edu/firststate
The New Jersey Chapter is participating “Sort by the Tunes”on Saturday, April 14, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, NJ. Come out and support our chapter's "Sort by the Tunes" Hokie Nation Serves initiative. We will enjoy lively tunes while assisting the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. You may also bring canned goods to this event to further aid our efforts, so come out and support this great cause! Children under the age of 12, open toe shoes, purses, and bags are NOT allowed in the warehouse at any time. If you have questions, contact Lauren Isbell at lauren.isbell@gmail.com. RSVP on the New Jersey Hokies Facebook site by April 13. The Alumni Association Board of Directors encourages all members of the Hokie Nation to commit to service hours beyond normal commitments and focus especially during the month of April. The Hokie Nation bonded together after April 2007 more than any time in our history. This bond created a sense of spirit and a momentum of living the university's motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). Join in our "Hokie Nation Serves" focus every April and help demonstrate to the world the power of Hokie Pride, Hokie Spirit, and Hokie Tradition.
For the second year in a row, The Portland, Oregon Chapter will be joining Friends of Trees for a tree planting in a neighborhood greenway (aka bike boulevard). We will meet for coffee and doughnuts around 8-8:30 a.m. at the staging area, but will work in SE Portland. Be sure to RSVP to cluttkus@vt.edu , and let us know if anyone under the age of 18 will be helping. We look forward to seeing you there.
The Denver Hokies will be hosting our 3rd Annual 3.2 for 32 Remembrance Walk/Run on Sunday, April 15. We welcome all Hokies and their friends and families to join us, as we not only reflect back on this tragic event, but also to celebrate life moving forward. Here are the details for this year’s event:
Event: Denver Hokies 3.2 for 32 Remembrance Walk/Run
When: Sunday, 4/15/2012
Time: 11 a.m. (We’ll meet up between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.)
BBQ: Noon
Where: Wash Park (Meet at parking lot @ South High School – 1700 E Louisiana, Denver, CO 80210)
Contact: Ernie Flippo – 303-570-2675
The Chapter will be hosting a barbecue immediately following the event in the South High School parking lot. We’ll have an Orange Canopy up so we’ll be easy to find. Please bring any yard games that you’d like to play. For anyone interested, we may go out for an early afternoon Happy Hour afterwards. For this year’s event, we’ll be conducting a balloon launch in memory of the 32 lives lost on April 16. That will commence at 11 a.m. sharp, prior to the Remembrance Walk/Run, so make sure that you get there early. We’ve had many attendees in the past ask if we were conducting any type of fundraiser in conjunction with this event. The Denver Hokies will be partnering with the Immediate Help Fund group this year. This fund, established by a group of VT alumni, was set up to help out the victims and families involved in future catastrophic events, like those that took place in Blacksburg on April 16. I’ll have information about this fund and how you can donate (if you choose to) to this cause. Although it’s not necessary to RSVP to attend this event, we would appreciate you using this form if you plan on attending so we can plan the food for the barbecue.
The National Capital Region Chapter is hosting its annual INOVA Blood Drive at the Northern Virginia Graduate Center in Falls Church on April 16 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Room 100. We will remember the victims from the shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, by donating blood to those in need throughout the region. Donors must weigh 110 pounds and be 17 years old. You do not need to know your blood type beforehand and there are no dietary restrictions on the day you donate. For more information, please check Inova's website: http://www.inova.org/get-involved/blood-donor-services/donate-blood/eligibility-requirements. Parking is available onsite and the graduate center is located by the West Falls Church Metro on the Orange Line. Please email Sean Callanan at scallana@vt.edu to schedule an appointment or for any questions.
3rd Annual Research Triangle Chapter Blood Drive - Come help us represent Virginia Tech by donating blood with us on the 5th anniversary of the 2007 shootings. Please be sure to RSVP and sign up for a specific time slot for this event. Monday, April 16, 2012, 2:30 p.m. -6:45 p.m., North Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 8301 Bandford Way, Raleigh, NC27616, Please click here to sign up for your time slot
Join the Shenandoah Chapter and American Red Cross for the 5th annual blood drive to honor those lost on April 16, 2007. Participate in our Hokie Nation Serves focus each April and help demonstrate to the world the power of Hokie Pride, Hokie Spirit, and Hokie Tradition. Volunteers are needed to staff the Blood Drive (greeters, walkers, and working the canteen). Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross. For questions, contact Doug Ewell (dewell@greenwayeng.com) or Zach Franz (zachfranz@rppi.net). Visit us online at www.shenandoahhokies.com or on Facebook for more information.
The Chicago Chapter will be volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House on April 22, 2012. VT alumni in the area will be going to one of the Ronald McDonald centers in the city to prepare meals, and the Chapter has provided a link to alumni in the region who are interested in providing donations for the event. The Chicago Chapter participated in the same event last year, and it was a wonderful event with large success. We are hoping to have another great event this year.
The Cincinnati Chapter will participate in the Build the Walls for Habitat for Humanity Project on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Christ Church at Mason. This is a family-friendly service event.
8 a.m.: 3.2-Mile Run in Remembrance – Virginia Tech Campus
A 3.2-Mile Run in Remembrance will start on the south side of the Drillfield near the War Memorial gym. Participants may run or walk. There is no cost to walk or run in the event. Get more details and registration information for the Run in Remembrance.
12:30 p.m. “Thank You” Baseball Barbecue – English Field
Following the 3.2-Mile Run in Remembrance, please join the Virginia Tech community for a “Thank You” Baseball Barbecue to show appreciation for our first responders, public safety, and medical personnel at English Field as the Hokies take on the University of Miami. Wear your 3.2 T-shirt or run bib to get a free meal starting at 12:30 p.m. Food is available on a first come, first served basis. Game starts at 2 p.m.; admission is free for all fans.
As the fifth anniversary of the April 16, 2007 tragedy approaches, we are reminded that anniversaries often are accompanied by challenges. Students, staff, faculty, and other members of the Virginia Tech community, whether they were on campus or not, may find themselves confronted with unexpected feelings or memories that they may have thought were resolved or in the past. Although we have seen many examples of how our campus community has been resilient, and many people will not need support on or around the Day of Remembrance, there will be services available for anyone who needs or wants to speak with a counselor.