[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
[April 17, 2007]
[Pages 419-420]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks During a Memorial Convocation at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, 
Virginia
April 17, 2007

    Governor, thank you. President 
Steger, thank you very much. Students and 
faculty and staff and grieving family members and members of this really 
extraordinary place: Laura and I have come to 
Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow. This is a day of mourning 
for the Virginia Tech community, and it is a day of sadness for our 
entire Nation. We've come to express our sympathy. In this time of 
anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking 
about you and asking God to provide comfort for all who have been 
affected.
    Yesterday began like any other day. Students woke up, and they 
grabbed their backpacks, and they headed for class. And soon the day 
took a dark turn, with students and faculty barricading themselves in 
classrooms and dormitories, confused, terrified, and deeply worried. By 
the end of the morning, it was the worst day of violence on a college 
campus in American history, and for many of you here today, it was the 
worst day of your lives.
    It's impossible to make sense of such violence and suffering. Those 
whose lives were taken did nothing to deserve their fate. They were 
simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now they're gone, and they 
leave behind grieving families and grieving classmates and a grieving 
nation.

[[Page 420]]

    In such times as this, we look for sources of strength to sustain 
us. And in this moment of loss, you're finding these sources everywhere 
around you. These sources of strength are in this community, this 
college community. You have a compassionate and resilient community here 
at Virginia Tech. Even as yesterday's events were still unfolding, 
members of this community found each other; you came together in dorm 
rooms and dining halls and on blogs. One recent graduate wrote this: ``I 
don't know most of you guys, but we're all Hokies, which means we're 
family. To all of you who are okay, I'm happy for that. For those of you 
who are in pain or have lost someone close to you, I'm sure you can call 
on anyone of us and have help any time you need it.''
    These sources of strength are with your loved ones. For many of you, 
your first instinct was to call home and let your moms and dads know 
that you were okay. Others took on the terrible duty of calling the 
relatives of a classmate or a colleague who had been wounded or lost. I 
know many of you feel awfully far away from people you lean on, people 
you count on during difficult times. But as a dad, I can assure you, a 
parent's love is never far from their child's heart. And as you draw 
closer to your own families in the coming days, I ask you to reach out 
to those who ache for sons and daughters who will never come home.
    These sources of strength are also in the faith that sustains so 
many of us. Across the town of Blacksburg and in towns all across 
America, houses of worship from every faith have opened their doors and 
have lifted you up in prayer. People who have never met you are praying 
for you; they're praying for your friends who have fallen and who are 
injured. There's a power in these prayers, a real power. In times like 
this, we can find comfort in the grace and guidance of a loving God. As 
the Scriptures tells us: ``Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil 
with good.''
    And on this terrible day of mourning, it's hard to imagine that a 
time will come when life at Virginia Tech will return to normal. But 
such a day will come. And when it does, you will always remember the 
friends and teachers who were lost yesterday and the time you shared 
with them and the lives they hoped to lead.
    May God bless you. May God bless and keep the souls of the lost. And 
may His love touch all those who suffer and grieve.

Note: The President spoke at 2:36 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. In his 
remarks, he referred to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia; and Charles 
W. Steger, president, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 
University. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of these remarks. The related proclamation of April 
17 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.