24 April 2007
A Hokie Family… A New Hokie Nation
Posted by Brian under: Guest Writer; Virginia Tech .
The following is an email from Landon Smith:
Angela and I were able to make it to the vigil last night, to represent the POD and although we are all now far and wide, I want everyone to know that your presence was felt on the drillfield last night.
Our first hand experience of the candlelight vigil follows…
April 17, 2007 Blacksburg, VA
8:00pm, Candlelight Vigil
Last night, with heavy hearts, a family and community came together to mourn. And what better place to come together than the drillfield, with Burrus as our backdrop; the centerpiece and the heart of the Virginia Tech campus. A place where wind is a hokie’s worst enemy… this day was no different. But, again… just as that fateful bolt of lightning hit Lee Corso’s car during football season when he bet against the Hokies. It was shown that God is too, a Hokie. On a blustery day 8:00pm rang out, the wind subsided, candles were lit, and the healing began. In a time of sadness and grief, words of wisdom and strength came from the student body president. In closing, he said “This ends the vigil, you may remain as long as you like with your hokie family.” Not one body moved, nor one candle flickered. A crowd of an estimated 20,000 plus was silent. Warm hearts and hugs comforted one another, tears of great sadness could be heard and laughter filled the air of great memories remembered. As a nation watched, all know now, what it truly means to be a Hokie.
As the vigil continued for 30 minutes a nation watched and mourned with us. And just as quickly as the wind subsided, one great wind blew through and extinguish the candles. Almost as a sign that all who were lost have now found peace and that the healing can now begin. As the crowd began to chant “Let’s GO… HOKIES.” It became evident those words spoken by Nikki Giovanni: “The Hokie Nation embraces our own with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think, not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imagination and the possibility we will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears, through all this sadness. We are Hokies… We will prevail, We WILL Prevail. WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH.”
Although we are represented at sporting events as a fighting gobbler, a turkey… a hokie. It is only a symbol. And I thank Andrew for his email, because he is exactly right. Before, all who were not a Hokie, laughed and questioned its existance, it meaning, and who we were. As Andrew said, “If you don’t know, you never could know.” If a nation could not understand what a Hokie is today, I don’t believe they ever could.
Even the media are in amazement, as a campus, a community, and a family has gathered and supported each other with courage and strength. Each reporter trying to find that one individual, who will speak against their Alma mater. Yet, not one can be found. We are Hokies… We are a family. The same orange and maroon blood flows through each of us undoubtedly and without question we believe in each other, our hokie family, and our school.
I encourage everyone to use the resources that are available to let the healing begin. Send emails, place phone calls, www.vt.edu has links to counseling… do whatever you need to do. Your hokie family, the Pod and now a New Hokie Nation believe in you and will always be there for you.
We may be all over the country today, but all of our hearts will always reside in Blacksburg, VA.
Landon Smith