California State University, Fresno will join in the National Moment of Silence today at 9:45 a.m. during a memorial service that will include the reading by two Virginia Tech alumni of the names of the 32 students and faculty killed last week.
Dr. Maria Sanchez and Dr. Ira Sorenson, members of the Virginia Tech Class of 2002 who are now mechanical engineering professors at Fresno State, will join President John D. Welty and students at the memorial from 9:30 to 10 a.m. in the Free Speech Area.
A forum at 9 a.m. preceding the tribute will include information about the tragedy’s impact on Fresno State, counseling services available on campus and what the university does to maintain security and safety. Students will have an opportunity to air concerns and ask questions.
Sanchez and Sorensen also will participate in the dedication of a memorial planting in front of the Henry Madden Library immediately following the tribute.
The faculty members – she from Bogotá, Colombia, and he from Selma, 20 miles south of Fresno – met at Virginia Tech while participating in a thermal radiation project and were married in Blacksburg, Va., in 2001. The pair both earned master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech. They joined the Fresno State faculty in 2003.
For today’s tribute, she will be wearing a Hokies jacket and he a Hokies sweatshirt.
“Virginia Tech – Remember, Discuss, Prepare” is presented by University Student Union Productions and the Division of Student Affairs for students, faculty, staff and the community, as part of the National Moment of Silence declared by Virginia Tech on Friday.
A banner will be available for people to sign, along with materials to make cards expressing personal thoughts. They will be sent to Virginia Tech. Carnations in the Hokies school colors, maroon and orange, will adorn the stage with posters bearing the victims’ names.
The tribute will include a vocal rendition of “Amazing Grace” by Fresno State student Erica Dement, university employee Lisa Kao singing the National Anthem and the Fresno State ROTC presenting colors. Senior music major Scott Dean will perform “Taps.” The University Carillon will ring out a tribute, including a one-bell toll to begin the moment of silence.
Immediately following, the memorial garden area will be dedicated at the southeast corner of the Henry Madden Library including a plaque to memorialize the fallen.
Planted in the garden are three forest pansy redbuds, 15 salvia caradonna, 10 phormium maori queen and 15 flats of orange marigolds, donated by Kenny’s Pansies in Fresno.
Additionally, three flowering dogwoods, the Virginia state flower, will be placed on the south side of the Engineering East building by the end of the week.
For more information, 559.278.2741.
For more information contained in this release, please go to the following Web site(s):
Campus emergency communications
Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund (closed)
Gunman Kills 32 at Virginia Tech In Deadliest Shooting in U.S. History (April 17, 2007)
We Remember memorial website
Fresno State marks Virginia Tech tragedy’s anniversary (April 16, 2008)
Virginia Tech Remembrance – Remarks by President Welty (April 16, 2008)
