Gov. Bob McDonnell called on Virginians to "always be ready to help one another in times of great tragedy and in times of inexplicable horror" as he marked the third anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings today.
McDonnell read a proclamation proclaiming April 16 "Virginia Tech Rememberance Day" and asked the crowd gathered at the Capitol Square bell tower to observe a moment of silence for the victims of the greatest mass murder in U.S. history. He also read the names of each of the 27 students and 5 faculty members who were shot to death by Tech student Seung Hui Cho on April 16, 2007, and the bell was rung 32 times in remembrance of the victims.
McDonnell praised the families of the victims and those injured in the tragedy "that rising out of the pain and tragedy that day, found ways to work with policy makers to improve our mental health system, to improve our higher education security systems, to improve our counseling and public safety systems."
"Many would have just been ready to walk away or to be angry," McDonnell said. "But out of that came a tremendous amount of healing and a better state and a better community."
In Blacksburg, the university also was holding several events to mark the anniversary, including a 3.2-mile run and a candlelight ceremony.
Football coach Frank Beamer called off Friday's practice, and noted that since the slayings Virginia Tech has become "a tighter, stronger campus than it's ever been. We've just got to keep pulling together and moving forward."
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