No, this is not a post about Phil Collins.
I remember when I was younger my Mom telling me she remembers exactly where she was and what she was doing when JKF was assassinated. At the time I couldn’t conceptualize something so traumatic/powerful happening in my life that I would actually remember a single moment in time. Unfortunately, I have now have a number of life experiences where I know exactly what that feels like. I even visualize myself telling my children where I was when the moment the first plane hit the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Today is one of those days. Today is the day that the legacy of my alma mater, Virginia Tech, was changed forever. I will never forget the moment I heard there was a shooting, and then multiple shootings, and then 10 people were killed. Then 11, then 12, then 13…..and finally the day of hell ending with a total of 32 people dead. I was sad. I was sad for the people who lost their lives, I was sad for their families, I was sad for the administration, I was sad for the entire Virginia Tech community, and I was sad that my happy place will from now on have the same connotation as Columbine High School.
I will never forget this speech that Nikki Giovanni gave to not only the Virginia Tech community, but to the whole nation. It’s a very poignant speech that will resonate with me for a lifetime.
Today I am still sad. Today I am proud. Proud of the way my fellow Hokies didn’t let this tragedy ruin our community. I am proud to say that I went to Virginia Tech. I am proud to be a Hokie, today and always.
