fpoon, et al in Blacksburg, CHECK IN!

fpoon · Post by **fpoon** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:08 pm

I am here, and I know a fellow tubenetter Josh Wirt are alright.

All of the guys who play tuba in the band are ok, we all checked in with each other.

As for other band members, a lot of us are under the impression a baritone player was shot in the leg. I've called all the hospitals in the area and no one has him.

Steve Oberheu · Post by **Steve Oberheu** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:12 pm

I got an e-mail from Josh as well, who was still locked down where he works. But, he's ok. Another friend of ours went to Josh's building after they heard shots where he was, but they're all ok.

I feel pretty stunned. I used to live in the dorm where the first shooting started this morning.

Glad the rest of you guys down there in Blacksburg are alright!

joshwirt · Post by **joshwirt** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:24 pm

Thanks for the concern. I've gotten a lot of msg's today from people all over the country and fellow UK tuba players.

My office in Torgersen Hall is about 100 yards from Norris Hall, the scene of all the horrific bloodshed this morning. I was actually walking into my building as this was unfolding and could see a lot of the police activity from our building.

We've also had 2 bomb threats to our buildings in the past two weeks, not to mention the William Morva incident last fall at the beginning of classes. Not a good year in this quiet, mountain town in Southwest VA.

It's just so surreal to be watching this on the news and have it be called 'the worst mass murder in US history'.

Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

-Josh Wirt

joshwirt · Post by **joshwirt** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:33 pm

*Update*

Ryan Clark, a member of the 'Tone' section in the Marching Virginians, did die today from what can only be described as an absolutely horrific day.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/la ... dent.shtml

Please keep the Virginia Tech community in your thoughts and prayers as more names will be released in next few days and more grief will begin for so many.

-Josh

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:59 pm

I believe Wade has spoken for all of us. We are very saddened to hear of such a tragedy and will include all of you in our prayers.

bearphonium · Post by **bearphonium** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:47 pm

Josh (and everbody at VATech)
It is surreal to have this happen at your home, and to people you know. Take comfort in the knowledge that thoughts and prayers from all over are with you at this time.
Ally"been through a school shooting myself"House

Steve Oberheu · Post by **Steve Oberheu** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:19 pm

joshwirt wrote:*Update*

Ryan Clark, a member of the 'Tone' section in the Marching Virginians, did die today from what can only be described as an absolutely horrific day.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/la ... dent.shtml

Please keep the Virginia Tech community in your thoughts and prayers as more names will be released in next few days and more grief will begin for so many.

-Josh

stunned....still.

That's like a member of the family right there. I'm so sorry to hear that!

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:05 am

Words escape me. I don't know what to say.

All I can do is pray for you. The same God that watches over Hanh and me in Vietnam watches over the folks at Virginia Tech.

((((Virginia Tech))))

Billy Jack Long

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:15 am

This is the Virginia Tech website. If you have any questions about what happened and what's going to happen, check it out.

http://198.82.160.236/

And, if you live in the area around Blacksburg please try to attend the convocation at 2 pm this afternoon and/or the candlelight vigil at 8 pm tonight.

I will be there in spirit.

Bill

joshwirt · Post by **joshwirt** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:11 am

Thank you again to everyone who has been emailing or posting on here for your thoughts and kind words. Virginia Tech has announced that classes will be cancelled for the remainder of the week for students and faculty to mourn.

For those of you who may be interested, the convocation at 2 pm will be available for viewing online at:

http://hokiesports.com/convocation.html

Haven't heard if the major networks are picking this up--I haven't been able to turn the tv on since yesterday....I live here....I was there....I don't need to see the pictures again.

I hope you are all safe and well, wherever you may be right now.

-Josh

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:23 pm

joshwirt wrote:*Update*

Ryan Clark, a member of the 'Tone' section in the Marching Virginians, did die today from what can only be described as an absolutely horrific day.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/la ... dent.shtml

Please keep the Virginia Tech community in your thoughts and prayers as more names will be released in next few days and more grief will begin for so many.

-Josh

CNN did a short profile of this young man. He was the kind of boy we'd want for a son and for our daughters to marry. He studied hard and got good grades. He worked with handicapped kids and was loved by everyone who knew him. His brother and sister were interviewed and they gave some examples of what a great brother he was. He was shown in his VT Band uniform with a big smile on his face.

Ryan was the type of guy us old geezers are looking to take over and lead society when we are done. Losing this fine young man is a loss to his family and all of the rest of us, too.

Since he was a low brass player, I'm going to put a small black ribbon somewhere on my horn for awhile to remember Ryan Clark and the rest of the VT people.

Jeff

fpoon · Post by **fpoon** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:31 pm

for our daughters to marry

I could not help but laugh when I read your touching post. I have been contacted by CNN, NBC, ABC and BBC all about talking about my friend Stack. I have rebuffed all attempts just cause I think the media is a bunch of vultures and VT has done more than enough to accomodate them already.

But the laughter eminates from what I've quoted. Apparently CNN left out the (trivial) fact that Stack happened to be gay. He himself would have laughed reading that, so I felt obligated to do the same. But I agree, I hope if I have a daughter she marries somone as like him as possible, though such people are treasures and are few and far between sadly.

Thanks to all you tubenetters in this our time of need.

Mike Buck

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:26 pm

the elephant wrote:Sorry for bringing my thread back up, but those freaks at Westborough are going to protest at Ryan Clark's funeral tomorrow. He was supposedly trying to shield others when he was shot and killed.

The evilness of Phelps and his clowns is easy to see through. The media now ignores them. The police move them off to one side and the mourners frequently are protected by volunteer guards.

Ryan Clark won't be forgotten by his friends and people who knew him. Phelps doesn't have any friends. His followers are all members of his own family and his money comes from a lawsuit he won a few years ago because his speech rights were inhibited.

Remember: karma's a bitch....

Tubaryan12 · Post by **Tubaryan12** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:58 pm

Wikipedia states this:

On the day of the April 16th 2007 campus massacre on the Virginia Tech campus, the Church declared its intent to protest the funerals of the students killed. This was announced on the Church's "url removed" website. On April 19th 2007, GoDaddy, the Internet registrar responsible for that website and its associated domain had suspended its registration, returning a "whois" DNS server entry of "suspended for spam and abuse". Within hours, however, the domain had been restored.[citation needed] In a deal similar to that struck for the victims of the Amish school shooting, Gallagher and the Church have independently announced that the Church has agreed to not protest these funerals in lieu of three hours of unrestricted airtime on his show.

Mike Gallagher has a radio show and according to Wiki, he often uses offers of free airtime to get the church to not picket at funerals.

joshwirt · Post by **joshwirt** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:13 pm

Previous post has been deleted since it is no longer relevant.

WoodSheddin · Post by **WoodSheddin** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:18 pm

Please give no more bandwidth to the Westborrrro Church. They deserve no more Google hits. Please do NOT mention them anymore.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 1:47 am

Thank you for posting this, Wade. While my beliefs aren't that much different from the folks in Wichita, I also recognize that Jesus ate with many of the same people those guys will have nothing to do with. God gives us a free will. I think they forget that.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:39 pm

Thank you for posting that, Wade. And, thanks to Sean for the way he has handled this. I, for one, appreciate this very much.

I must question the radio show that has in effect allowed itself to be blackmailed into giving airtime. This I don't understand.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:49 pm

TubaRay wrote:I must question the radio show that has in effect allowed itself to be blackmailed into giving airtime. This I don't understand.

Nor do I. What they are threatening to do at this time of grief (as well as others) if not acceded to is repulsive to ANY intelligent person. At least people can just change the channel!

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:25 pm

As a recent graduate on Virginia Tech who no longer lives in Blacksburg, it was extremely hard to see what so many of my friends and fellow Hokies were experiencing that horrible day. It reminded me so much of last year when I was teaching in California and my grandfather, my namesake, passed away back in Virginia. The feelings of hopelessness, pain, and vulnerability where so strong, feeling so far away from those affected that you care so much about.

Although I only live an hour away, my duties and commitments at work kept me from all of the services and gave me no chance to at least visit the campus. Blacksburg could have been 100 hours away! But it was doing what I love doing, teaching my kids, playing my horn in rehearsals and gigs, just keeping busy, that pulled me through.

I am glad to hear that many students will be returning tomorrow to resume classes. Sometimes this can be the best medicine. Instead of focusing on the tragedy, let us all continue with our lives in honor of those lost, living it to the fullest.

God Bless all of my Hokies, near and far.

Will