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Virginia Tech Mashup of stories reported April 16, 2008
This Google map pinpoints moments captured by reporters, photographers, videographers and producers throughout the Roanoke and New River Valleys on April 16, 2008. Whether the moments occurred at public events, cookouts with friends or in quiet moments of reflection, the One Year Later site provides true-to-life glimpses of the day through audio vignettes, video, photo galleries and stories.
Crowd gathers on the Drillfield for candlelight vigil
8:04 p.m., War Memorial, Virginia Tech
On the ledge overlooking the Drillfield, a crowd gathers.
"Dude, this is tight. You can see everything," one man explained into his cell phone.
On the Drillfield below, the crowd grows by the minute, a living mass of maroon and orange.
A few people wear suits as if going to church. A young woman, sitting on the gray stone ledge, wraps herself in a blanket. Across the crowd below, cameras wink like fireflies. A young student in a white ball cap takes in the scene.
"They're just piling in," the student said.
Submitted by Erinn Hutkin | The Roanoke Times
Hokies sweep Liberty in softball doubleheader
6:30 p.m., Tech Softball Park, Virginia Tech
Before their double-header against Liberty, the Virginia Tech softball players gathered on the field and shouted, "All for 32." It was their theme for the day.
Then they went out and swept the Flames, winning 7-2 and 9-1.
"It was amazing," first baseman Beth Walker said. "You had a lot of thoughts going through your head besides softball. ... We were not just playing for a win. We were definitely playing for 32."
But playing on this day wasn't easy for the Hokies.
"It just hits you at odd times," pitcher Angela Tincher said. "It was a little bit harder than I think I thought it was going to be. Softball is what we're used to doing, but today ... it was really hard to focus.
Memorial garden offers respite
5:23 p.m., Hahn Horticulture Garden, Virginia Tech

The Hahn Horticulture Garden offered a quiet respite for those who wanted a peaceful place to reflect Wednesday afternoon.
That day, garden staff, including Education and Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Huckestein, led guided tours around the site. The garden spreads over more than five acres, including hundreds of species of plants from Virginia and around the world.
There is also some new construction. Once it is complete, the garden will include a memorial to one of the 32 people killed at the campus last April.
Remembering April 16 with fraternity brothers
5:20 p.m., Roanoke Street, Blacksburg
The patio is filled with shirtless young men. Smoke rises from the grill. The volleyball court is empty at the end of a match. And girls in bikinis stand against the ledge of the balcony.
Nelson Oliver, 23, is hanging out with his brothers in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. "It's an interesting time for everyone," he said. "That's why we decided to spend it here among our brothers. That's where you find your strength."
Oliver went to the Drillfield ceremony this morning and planned to return for the candlelight vigil this evening long enough to light a candle and pay his respects.
Churches gather to comfort, remember
4:45 p.m., Blacksburg Baptist Church, Blacksburg
Members of six Blacksburg churches gathered on North Main Street beneath 32 flags representing the countries of origin of the victims of April 16th. They congregated, in the words of Blacksburg Baptist Church music director Charlotte Smith, "to move into hope."
People and pastors came from Blacksburg United Methodist, Blacksburg Presbyterian, Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, St. Mary's Catholic and Christ Episcopal churches. They assembled in the Baptist church's parking lot to break bread together in anticipation of a community remembrance service planned for 6:30.
Panoramic view of Drillfield
4:13 p.m., Drillfield, Virginia Tech
Members of the Corps of Cadets stand guard on the Drillfield.
QTVR Photograph by Seth Gitner | roanoke.com
Remembering through art creation
4 p.m., Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech
Kelsey Andleton, 18, a freshman from Yorktown, Virginia, selects a rock from among those available in the Squires Student Center's Old Dominion Ballroom, where the Tech community was invited to create personal artwork on stones to commemorate and remember those who lost their lives in the April 16 tragedy.
Andleton painted a heart and "VT" on her stone.
Shooting survivor watches teammates take the field
3 p.m., Tech Softball Park, Virginia Tech
Last April 16, Theresa Walsh had a bullet whiz past her ear in Norris Hall.
The 2007 Tech graduate and former Hokie softball player returned to campus to watch her ex-teammates play Liberty University in a doubleheader.
"It's tough coming back, but it feels good at the same time to have people support you," said Walsh, a Blacksburg resident. "There's certain things as a person, to finish the grieving process, that you have to do. This is one of the things I have to do. I have to come back and be able to watch the team and know that we're moving forward.
"This morning, I was a train wreck. This afternoon, I'm a little bit better."