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The line of mourners to see the memorial candle is still at about 50 people, not much shorter than its peak earlier in the day. The crowd of sun-worshippers dwindled to about 100 or so compared to perhaps five times that earlier in the afternoon. The ones who remained mostly stopped playing football and Frisbee in favor of napping and listening to live music being played here and there, including a bagpipe and a couple of guitars.

-- Rob Johnson

A second commemoration service, lasting 20 minutes, was led by Greek Orthodox clergy in a bright sunlight near the memorial flame. The pastors wore the black shirts and white collars that stood out in contrast to the dozen or so student congregation members who wore jeans and T-shirts.

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Father Dean Nastos, pastor of Roanoke's Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, walked onto the Drillfield to hold another commemoration service. His campus ministry that is usually held on Tuesday was rescheduled this week to honor the victims of the April 16 shootings, whose names will be read for a second time at Father Nastos' service. He said that although the healing on campus seems to be going well among students who attend his ministry and others, "it will never be back to normal. Our memories of each other are eternal."

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Drillfield observations between 2:30 and 3

Most of the dozens of officers from various police agencies, including state troopers, on duty Wednesday morning have departed. In fact, only one remained. A Virginia State Trooper sitting inside his patrol car near the Drillfield, barely watching the students. In fact, one campus officer, who stood on the steps on Burruss Hall, said she wasn’t patrolling the Drillfield at all. But she had just come outside her office for a breath of air.

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Three hours after the commemoration ended, the line at the candle stretched out to 60 people who wait about 20 minutes each to take photos, stand for a moment of silence or, in some cases, lay flowers by the memorial.

One who brought flowers was Alyssa Durben, a geography major who wasn’t a student at Virginia Tech last year, but transferred in since. She brought a single pink chrysanthemum. She said the emotion of the day prevented her from attending the commemoration service, but “I wanted to come now and leave this flower, especially for the Holocaust survivor [Liviu Librescu]. I didn’t know he was one until I saw it on TV. It broke my heart.”

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Jonathan Gaines, 25, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, said he met with his professor and classmates this morning in Norris Hall to reflect on the events of April 16, 2007, "just to be there as a support and just to reflect and, you know, to use each other as strength as we try to get through this day. You know, it's difficult, but that's the attitude here at Virginia Tech."

-- Marquita Brown

A pink rose. A glass angel. A white seashell.

More than 50 people move through the line at the memorial just after 1 p.m., some with trinkets to place at one of the 32 memorial stones. The cool air is thick with smells of grass and flowers.

There's a small plush Tigger keyring at Ryan Clark's stone. In the grass beside Christopher James Bishop's stone is a quote from Oscar Wilde: "Where there is sorrow there is holy ground."

-- Marquita Brown

With thousands of people gathered on the Drillfield, Tech's commemoration ceremony begins.
As Tech President Charles Steger speaks, people stand with heads bowed, sniffing and wiping away tears.
"Let us today embrace the past with remembrance," Steger said.
Following Steger's words, a man and woman step up to the podium to read names and descriptions of victims' who died on April 16. The descriptions celebrate victims lives with details about their loves, activities, quirks and dreams for the future. One victim is remembered for his love for the Detroit Tigers, another for his passion for Indonesian politics, a third for her fondness for modern fiction. Victims' "infectious laughter," "zany personality," loyality and commitment to friends and family are all praised.

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Minutes before the University Commemoration is scheduled to begin, thousands have converged on the Drillfield. Dressed in maroon and orange, they listen to the band play and greet eachother with hugs. Together, they cover most of the Drillfield.

Dressed in black and white, their instruments glinting in the sunlight, rows of musicians sit next to the memorial and begin to play. As their music fills the air, hundreds of people gather on the Drillfield. Most stand in clusters. Some hold flowers. Others hold hands and talk quietly.