2008.04.16
Flowers pile on stones
A line of about 30 visitors to the Hokie stone memorials took nearly 20 minutes to file past the flower-showered stones.
Some passersby noted that names of some victims are shrouded because of the sea of petals adorning each. Some of the flowers, carnations, come from the seven buckets lined along the wall in front of War Memorial Chapel.
NRV Floral donated the flowers and signs accompanying them encourages people to take a single, long-stemmed carnation to the site of the candle memorial.
The cadets guarding the candle remain stoic as curios onlookers snapped photos of the changing of rigid changing of the guard.
Farther from the vigil, the crowd scattered on the Drill Field has thinned. Some barefoot boys continue to toss footballs and throw frisbees, while couples hug each other and others read while lounging on blankets.
In about two hours, candle-light vigil is set to begin.
