blacksburg, virginia – It has been 17 years since the tragic Virginia Tech shooting that claimed the lives of 32 Hokies and marked a day we will never forget.
As we remember the lives lost that day, we are remembering several stories from area residents affected by the shooting.
In 2018, 10 News interviewed Tracy Lane, the mother of Jarrett Lane of Giles County. Jarrett was valedictorian at Narrows High School, and she was majoring in civil engineering at Virginia Tech when she was killed on April 16, 2007. He was just a few weeks away from graduation.
In a 2018 interview, Tracy said that tragedies like the Virginia Tech shootings have become the new normal for society, but after losing her son in the tragic Blacksburg tragedy, she has never seen anything like it. He said it was something he never expected.
“Families affected by Virginia Tech were confident that something would work out when their children were taken away,” Tracy said.
[READ MORE: “Nothing has changed,” Virginia Tech victim’s mother speaks out about shooting]
In 2018, we also spoke with shooting victim Derek O'Dell, who survived the gunshot wound. Odell is now a parent and married to his high school sweetheart from Virginia Tech.
Despite everything he has been through, he has fulfilled his life's dreams and currently works as a local veterinarian at a successful practice in Vinton. Caring for animals is his passion and healing work. That's what he calls his calling.
[READ MORE: From victim to parent, Virginia Tech survivor reflects on school shooting]
On Tuesday morning, Hokies and community members gathered at the April 16 Memorial on Virginia Tech's campus to remember those who lost their lives 17 years ago. A candle lighting ceremony was held at midnight, followed by a short wreath laying ceremony and a moment of silence at 9:43 a.m.
The torch will be watched day and night by members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, and the ceremonial candle will be extinguished and returned to Burrus Hall on Tuesday night at 11:59 p.m.
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