Hampton Roads residents mark Tech anniversary with Mass, protests

Last April 16, Pat Brennan waited by her telephone for hours, not knowing whether her granddaughter was alive or dead amid the carnage of the Virginia Tech shootings.

A year later, Brennan was at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Norfolk, adding her prayers to the congregation's at a special Mass for the victims and survivors of the Tech tragedy.

Brennan, a Norfolk resident in an orange Hokie sweatshirt, said Wednesday that she came to pray not only for the victims but for their families. "Those families are going to carry this forever," she said. Brennan said her granddaughter, who survived, lived near the first students killed.

The church's bell tolled 32 times to honor the victims fatally shot by senior Seung-Hui Cho, who later killed himself.

"We pray this day for those who lost their lives at Virginia Tech," the Rev. Daniel Beeman said during the noontime service. "We look back, and we pray."

As many as 250 people from across South Hampton Roads attended the joint service hosted by all of Norfolk's Catholic churches. The audience included scores of children from Holy Trinity and St. Pius X Catholic schools in Norfolk.

Mary Royal, a UPS clerk, was among those in the crowd with no direct connection to the tragedy. "I'm here... to pay homage and remember. It's all a Hokie Nation, not just Blacksburg," said Royal, who wore a spiral of Hokie-colored ribbon on her shirt.

Others had more personal ties to Tech.

"I'm just here to pray for the survivors, pray for the souls of those who passed. It's a good way to mark the one-year anniversary," said Angela Hamrick, a 2001 Tech graduate who is a youth minister at Holy Family Catholic Church in Virginia Beach.

"I wanted to show my respect for the memory of those young children," said Maxine Andrews of Virginia Beach. "I have two grandsons who are at Virginia Tech and were there at the time, and one of them was friends with one of the persons who lost their life."

About five miles away, a gong rang rhythmically for three minutes Wednesday afternoon as 21 people lay solemnly on the grass and concrete at the foot of the Colley Avenue bridge in Norfolk. They wore maroon and orange ribbons around their necks.

The purpose of the lie-in was to honor victims of gun violence and raise awareness of shortcomings in gun laws, said Kaye Tice, a board member of the Virginia Center for Public Safety and an organizer of the demonstration.

Three minutes is all it takes to do a background check on someone buying a gun, Tice said. While licensed firearm dealers must conduct a check by law, private dealers at gun shows are not required to.

Jermal Mabine, 20, a Norfolk State University student who attended the lie-in, said a friend's brother was recently shot to death.

"Stuff like that makes me want to support these efforts," said Mabine, who works with the Youth Leadership Conference to educate young people about gun violence.

Later Wednesday, one of Virginia Tech's most famous ambassadors spoke about how, even in the midst of tragedy, the true spirit of Hokie Nation came through.

"We'll always remember those precious lives lost," former NFL star Bruce Smith said. "But we should also remember the acts of heroism. Think about the teachers and students who put themselves in harm's way so that others might get away. And the way the students conducted themselves when it was over, the way they were able to explain what happened and give key details.

"They were people of character, courage and integrity. And that's what Virginia Tech is all about."

Smith, who starred at Norfolk's Booker T. Washington High and Virginia Tech before amassing an NFL-record 200 sacks during a 19-year pro career, was the guest speaker at 'Hokie Honors, an evening of remembrance and dedication at The Gallery at Military Circle mall.

As Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" played in the background, each victim's name was read and a candle was lighted in tribute. Local hip-hop group Kollision performed the self-penned "Heart of the Hokies" and the event concluded with the releasing of 32 balloons.

Smith expressed pride in the way Hokies everywhere have responded.

"When people realize I went to Virginia Tech, they tell me, 'I'm so sorry about what happened,' " Smith said. "But I say, 'Don't feel sorry for us. We will find a way to move on. We are a strong nation.' "