I grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University. The only connection I had back then to Virginia Tech was a childhood friend who went to college in some place called Blacksburg, Virginia.
I moved to Virginia in 1990 to attend law school at George Mason. Several of my classmates were Virginia Tech graduates, but, again, it seemed like a pretty remote place to me. The closest I’ve been to Blacksburg, Virginia was in July 1993 when I drove to Roanoke to take the Virginia Bar Exam.
I have no loyalties to Virginia Tech. And I know that there is a rivalry between the Hokies and the University of Virginia Cavaliers.
Today, though, I don’t think that any of that matters. Today, we’re all Virginians mourning the loss of 32 students. Today, I might even say, we’re all Hokies.
H/T for the waving flag graphic to Brendan Loy
Tags: Virginia Tech
April 17th, 2007 at 12:38 am
Very well done.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Not only well spoken, but I am proud of you for reminding us that we are all in this together! love, m
April 18th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I’m Hokie born and hokie bred and this is a very nice senitment i am a senior in high school and attending vt next year but this has shaken the entire country not just a town and we in the hokie nation appreciate these sentiments. Thank You
April 18th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I was born in Virginia raised as an Auburn Tiger and agree undoubtedly all of us being Virginians and all being Hokies!
God Bless Virginia Tech, you are in my prayers
April 18th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
God Bless you all and your families, your a true testament of what the us is all about togetherness and love.. Peace be with you all …
April 19th, 2007 at 8:54 am
All of us at Old Dominion send our thoughts and prayers out to those of you who have lost someone in this senseless act. We are all with you. God Bless.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:15 am
I am a Hokie.
I met and married my wife while we were both there as students.
My older son graduated from Tech in 2000.
My younger son is a freshman at Tech, and is safe and sound.
In my family, we are truly all Hokies, and we feel a kinship to all other Hokies, but it is reassuring to know that there are so many other people joining us in our mourning and recovery.
Thank you all.
April 19th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Thank you for this sentiment - once a Hokie, always a Hokie -I’ve been out of Tech for thirty years and the pain this tragedy has caused is as raw as if I’d been there the day it happened. Here in Northern VA, you can’t buy a VA Tech apparel item or even find Burgundy and Orange ribbon today - hallelujah! God Bless VA Tech and thanks to everyone praying for these families.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I may not be from VT and i have no right to call my self a Hokie.Not all of us are from VT, but we do have rights to mourn and pray for the 32 lives that were taken away.
This tragedy shows how us humans can be so selfish. But with the people helping,praying,donating,posting videos on youtube and doing what ever they can to show that thet care. It shows how the world can work as one, and how we can help one another. not all of us are from Virginia Tech but Today,We’re All Hokies.
My Name is Carmen Raneses, I am 13 years old,I live in the Philippines. But today i am a Hokie.
Thank You.