Honoring the Past, Moving Forward

"Your careers at Virginia Tech have prepared you to forge your own path forward, and the opportunities now before you are limited only by the size of your dreams."

The keynote speaker, retired Army Gen. John Philip Abizaid, spoke to the Class of 2007 about the burden they will carry for the rest of their lives.

They will leave with their good memories of the campus, he told them. "But you will also take with you the collective responsibility of realizing the dreams and aspirations of those who cannot be here," said Abizaid, former commander of the U.S. Central Command.

A day earlier, he and his wife had visited the makeshift memorials that have grown on the campus Drillfield since the shooting. Under a white-and-blue tent sit thousands of scribbled notes, along with "VT" insignias made out of everything from Popsicle sticks to dried daisies and baby's-breath blossoms. There is a display of eggs painted with each victim's name, reminding passersby that life is fragile.

"While we are saddened by the loss of those who cannot be here today, I believe that they would want this ceremony to commemorate both the tragedy of yesterday and the promise of tomorrow," Abizaid told those gathered. "I believe that they look down upon this gathering with dignified pride."

Graduates will receive their actual diplomas Saturday.

Throughout the day, the atmosphere on campus had been mostly one of optimism and excitement.

Mike Stoupa, 21, of McLean spent the hours before graduation with his family, packing away the few remaining items. He was excited about the ceremony, he said. He knows the shooting will always be associated with the Class of 2007, he said, but that is not what he will focus on when he looks back.

"We'll probably be remembered for that, but I don't think this class is going to make that their defining moment," Stoupa said. "I hope this class will be recognized more for their accomplishments than for the event on April 16."

As president of the Virginia Tech Union, he planned concerts and comedy shows. One of his favorite memories is of the time when a friend, who could pass for a high school student, stood among a group of prospective students touring the campus. Stoupa ran up, threw her over his shoulder and yelled, "I got one!"

The blank look on the other students' faces still cracks him up.

"That's what this place is," he said.

Vincent Caluori, 23, of Springfield said he will remember hiking at the Cascades, trips to the river and going to such restaurants as Homeplace that serve up Southern cooking.

Hours before he was to graduate, Caluori took his parents to the Drillfield. He stood in front of the flowers and mementos that swelled on the stone representing Ryan Clark, a victim and a friend he knew through marching band.

"He will get all three of his degrees," Caluori said. "He also had a 4.0."

His father, Marco Caluori, said it's all "surreal."

"I just can't believe it happened," he said. "A nice quiet place like Blacksburg, you knew your kids were going to be safe."

Vincent Caluori said the weight of the day hadn't hit him yet.

"I think it's going to hit me after I leave," he said. "I just kind of wish I could come back for another year and see how this place rebounds."