Apr. 19 , 2007

MC holds memorial for Virginia Tech victims, family and friends

by Elizabeth Lehman

The day is perfect. Bright colors from freshly blooming flowers paint the pristine grounds of Marietta College. The sweet scent from their petals is gently carried across the campus by a calm breeze. Warm light is shining down almost directly overhead, leaving only small crescents of shadows.

In the middle of the campus mall is the flagpole, standing tall, but with its flags tethered only to half of its height. With all of the loveliness surrounding this spot, the lifeless flags are the only indication that something is wrong.

Gathering on this picturesque day in April are students, staff, faculty, administration, and community leaders who have come to memorialize the victims of what has been deemed “The Virginia Tech Massacre,” a horrific episode that occurred just 226 miles away from this peaceful campus.

As the clock tower bell begins to chime the noon hour, the crowd continues to smile and chat with each other while waiting for the event to begin.

The flags billow out into rippling red, white, and blue as Meg McCrone, an MC sophomore and the event organizer, steps out of the crowd. The middle of the group clears to form a space for her and the talking quickly turns to silence.

Meg begins by thanking the small community for coming together for the prayer and discussion of the tragedy at Virginia Tech: “Thirty-three students with thirty-three families are grieving along with a college, a community, a state, a nation, and the world.” Then the crowd circles around the now still flags, grasp hands, and bow their heads.

As the group begins to read scripture and pray, either silently or aloud, the stunning lack of noise on the campus is clearly apparent. As classes are released, students exit the buildings and are quieted by the sight of the memorial service. Some stop, remove their hats, quiet their cell phones, and simply observe. Most walk by slowly and are careful to not disturb the hush and stillness of the group and carry the reverence all the way down the mall.

Within the circle, prayers center on the victims, families, and the students of Virginia Tech, but there are also calls for forgiveness and compassion for the “poor, troubled person” and his family. Some wipe tears away, while others let them slowly travel down their cheeks in order to maintain the circle.

When the prayers have ceased, the group releases hands while Meg encourages them to stay and talk to each other before going in their own directions. The circle then slowly dissolves and into small clusters that begin discussion the shock, emotion, and terror that has surely been felt the world over.

Once the group has cleared, someone asks Meg why she decided to organize the event. She explains: “One of my friends has a friend who was in the building where the shooting occurred.

The fact that someone on the Marietta College campus was intimately affected made me feel immediately compelled to do something.” She thought about it and decided that people coming together to talk and pray was the best action to take.

Her next step will be coordinating what the Virginia Tech Alumni Association has deemed “National Maroon and Orange Day” on Friday, April 20. Meg is hoping to allocate funds to provide maroon and orange ribbons for the campus, bet pending that, is hoping that the college community will choose these colors for their outfits that day.