2008.04.16
Pink, orange candles arrive on Drillfield
Throngs of students and community members in maroon Hokies United T-shirts have descended on the Drillfield,standing and placing blankets on patches of grass near the stones and guarded burning candle. Police have blocked off the pathway around the site.
Other people have lined the ledge of the War Memorial to watch the ceremony, which is slated to begin at sunset.
Along the field's sidewalks, students groups are handing out pink and orange candles and paper 7-Eleven cups in which to cradle the candles during the ceremony.
The cadets have left their post at the candle until 9 p.m. so they are not a distraction during the candlelit vigil.
The number of visitors to the memorial has picked up, with a crowd of more than 50 slowly passing by each of the stones. An uptick in police presence is noticeable as well, with pockets of sheriff's deputies and community officers patrolling the sides of the field.
