8:15 p.m., Mill Mountain, Roanoke

About 100 people gathered at the Mill Mountain Star for Wednesday night’s "Light the Night" ceremony.

The crowd wanted to make a gesture of remembrance for the Virginia Tech victims by aiming lights at the Mill Mountain Star, which Roanoke City Council had voted to leave dark on April 16.

Most of the 100 carried candles or flashlights of different varieties: Mag Lites; Energizer lanterns; six-volt battery models and kitchen drawer styles; even a fishing lamp with a badge that boasted 15 million candela power.

Brenda Hale and Frances Berry, both of Roanoke, sat on chairs and hefted lights they dubbed "Big Bertha" and "The Purp," and Berry’s granddaughter, Keona Shabazz, carried "Little Goldie."

"If you know the history of the Star ... it always was red when some significant tragedy has happened," said Hale. "I believe it was the wrong decision to make it dark."

Others voiced similar opinions, but most said they just showed up to honor Tech. As the sun set, William Fleming High School teacher Dennis Workman spoke briefly about his former student, Henry Lee, who was killed in the Tech shootings.

At 8:15 p.m., the crowd counted down and pointed their lights at the Star for two minutes while they sang "Amazing Grace." Then they changed direction and aimed their beams down at the valley and the city sparkling below.

Text by Neil Harvey | Video by Jordan Fifer (The Roanoke Times)