Third Annivarsary of VT massacre

Today is the third anniversary of VT massacre!! I am reminded of this day painfully every year. We get a message from VT president as well as Virginia Governor every year this date. Today is also no different.. At about 9.40 AM EST, there will be a moment of silence remembering the victims.

I remember this day very clearly in 2007. I was in CA and was heading my way to Virginia to attend the annual VBI conference. I was worried that I did not print the poster and at the same time I was happy that there were some errors and I will be able to correct them. I usually route my trip through Pittsburg where one of my close friends stay. A drive from Pittsburg to Blacksburg is a pleasant one. It is full of mountain terrains and lots of greenery. So, I was very happy that I will be able to drive the stretch of 350 miles again! I reached the Van Nuys airport at about 10 AM, it was unusually crowded then with very long line for security check in. I was worried that I will miss my flight. Soon, I got a call from my cousin, asking me if I was safe. Surprised, I asked why? Then he reported to me about the incident.. I brushed it aside thinking he is joking, and it is impossible that such a thing will happen. Just then came another call from another cousin and then another call from a friend and all seem to have known what had happened except for me. Shocked I was could not believe my ears. Blacksburg is such a peaceful small town, I could not have expected anything as terrible as this to have happened there. Somehow, I got into the plane and was hooked into the news channel on the air plane. The clippings showed injured being carried to the hospital and it was a snowy day in Blacksburg that day. All through my 9 hours travel I was listening to just one thing - about how and what had just happened!

My drive to Blacksburg was not a pleasant one. I reached Blacksburg the next day and found the roads are empty, on campus there are huge satellite cameras and camps of TV crews. There was memorial services in the church. The next day I managed to go to the students squires center. There they had laid small stones with small bouquets in memory of each of the deceased as well as one for the perpetrator. It was a surreal sight.. Seeing all the student volunteers offering free counseling brought tears to my eyes. 32 innocent people lost their lives including Indian students and professors. It could have happened to anyone that day! With this I offer my silent prayer to the victims..