Tech pauses to honor 32 victims

BLACKSBURG -- They were: The apple of a parent's eye. A collector of friends. Brilliant. Warm.

They dreamed. Volunteered. Had smiles that made others smile.

They were 32 people who Virginia Tech paused yesterday to remember and to honor, on the second anniversary of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

Under a cloudless sky, 3,000 gathered: families, friends, faculty -- the community of Virginia Tech -- to reflect on those who died.

They were:

Always happy helping others, a sweet personality, a beautiful smile. Mary Karen Read.

"The simplest and nicest guy I ever knew." Waleed Mohamed Shaalan.

Little Mike. An instinctive helper, avid and joyful learner in the classroom and in life. Michael Steven Pohle Jr.

An EMT in Smithfield, a volunteer at the animal shelter and the battered women's shelter. Nicole Regina White.

Two Tech teachers read the short biographies. They read about:

"The best professor I ever had." G.V. Loganathan.

The young man with the open smile and zany personality. Henry J. Lee.

Deeply concerned for our environment. Matthew Gregory Gwaltney.

The remembrance ceremony was simple, really. It is the job that is hard.

"We have searched for answers, and we have searched for meaning in what is incomprehensible," Tech President Charles W. Steger said before the readings started.

"We are more keenly aware of how those we lost touched our lives and how we are inspired by them."

They:

Made everyone feel like her best friend. Caitlin Millar Hammaren.

Strengthened her family with childlike enthusiasm, infectious laughter, a kind heart. Minal Hiralal Panchal.

Hoped to travel abroad to share her faith -- and has. Lauren Ashley McCain.

Loved to hike, kayak, bike, ski and work on the family farm. Jeremy Michael Herbstritt.

Relished the challenge of the Corps of Cadets. Matthew Joseph LaPorte.

Adored her great-grandmother, called her parents daily. Erin Nicole Peterson.

"Do not hurry/as you walk with grief;/it does not help the journey," Colin Goddard, one of the students shot that day, told the crowd, reading from an old Celtic prayer.

Their grief was for:

A friend to all he met. A serious student who lived to the fullest. Jarrett Lee Lane.

A scientist, artist, guitarist, composer, budding civil and environmental engineer. Daniel Patrick O'Neil.

Max. Graduating chemical engineer, talented violinist, avid swing dancer. Maxine Shelly Turner.

A scientist who believed research could change the world. Kevin P. Granata.

A Centreville resident, a citizen of the world. Reema J. Samaha.

"It is: We will prevail and we remember," said Joseph Samaha, Reema's father, after the ceremony on the Drillfield, the heart of the Tech campus, who has in the past criticized Tech's "we will prevail" slogan as steering attention away from issues of accountability and reform.

"They are intertwined. The two things together equal we honor."

So yesterday, all paused to remember people who:

Lived life boldly and with purpose, a passionate volunteer. Austin Michelle Cloyd.

Loved photography, historical sites, museums, reading and running. Leslie G. Sherman.

Embraced a life filled with long family hikes in the forests and with flower-filled home gardens. Jocelyn Couture-Nowak.

Some families of the injured and dead prepared for a flight to Denver in the days ahead, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre, hoping that their voices might inspire others to campaign against gun violence in the nation's schools and streets.

"These are not acceptable losses. We don't have to accept this," said Andrew Goddard, whose son Colin read the prayer reminding all to "take time, be gentle/as you walk with grief."

Grief for those who:

Loved God, shown through his friendliness, kindness, warm smile, memorable laugh. Brian Roy Bluhm.

Dreamed of bringing people together. Daniel Alejandro Perez Cueva.

As the crowd, many in maroon and orange, bowed heads, held hands, the stories of those lost rolled on.

They were:

Dedicated to glorifying God in all she did. Rachael Elizabeth Hill.

Jamie. Convinced studying foreign languages was basic to understanding people. Christopher James Bishop

Wise beyond her years, insisted on fairness in everything and wanted everyone to be happy. Emily Jane Hilscher.

Deployed to fight wildfires. . . . Always pursued a better world. Julia Kathleen Pryde.

Computer builder, tournament winning gamer, support expert, beta tester Ross Abdallah Alameddine.

"Stack" to his friends. School tutor, volunteer. Infectious smile and laugh. Ryan Christopher Clark.

The half-staff Virginia flag in front of Burrus Hall snapped in the fresh, but warm breeze so unlike the icy blast of April 16, 2007; the names continued.

Their smile cemented friendships. Patahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan.

They lived with integrity, perseverance and energy, as if each day were his very last. Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz.

They gave, volunteers for youth groups, service projects, holding shut the doors of Norris Hall that terrible day, as the gunman shot, and his bullets took yet another life. For they also embodied courage through life, even in its final moments. Liviu Librescu.

Contact David Ress at (804) 649-6051 or dress@timesdispatch.com.