Never Forgotten...

Tara's (GA) story of her first and very personal tattoo...



April 16, 2007 is a day that I will never forget. On that day, Virginia Tech became a world-wide name. On that day, 32 members of the Virginia Tech community were shot. On that day, 32 lives were ended too soon.

Ever since that day, I have tried to live my life to the fullest... if for no other reason than to memorialize the 32 lives that were lost. About a year and a half ago, I decided that I wanted to get a tattoo for my 25th birthday. I knew exactly what I wanted and where I wanted it. The tattoo was to say "LIVE FOR 32" and it was to be on my left wrist so that I could see it everyday and so that it could serve as a constant reminder to me.

I ended up not getting the tattoo on the exact day of my 25th, mainly because I didn't know where to go and didn't have anyone to go with me (and I just knew I couldn't do this alone). A few weeks later, while on a professional conference, I was reunited with some of my closest friends from grad school. I felt it in my heart, this was when I was supposed to get my tattoo. My 3 friends, Alicia, JK and Susan, came with me to be my support and to share in the moment with me. It couldn't have been more perfect of a time, and I couldn't have asked for better friends to be with me. Yes, it was a little random to get a tattoo while on a professional conference, in a city that is 3 states away... but that is what makes the story that much better.

This is for you, my Hokies...

1) Ross A. Alameddine
2) Christopher James Bishop
3) Brian R. Bluhm
4) Ryan Christopher Clark
5) Austin Michelle Cloyd
6) Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
7) Kevin P. Granata
8) Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
9) Caitlin Millar Hammaren
10) Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
11) Rachael Elizabeth Hill
12) Emily Jane Hilscher
13) Jarrett Lee Lane
14) Matthew Joseph La Porte
15) Henry J. Lee
16) Liviu Librescu
17) G.V. Loganathan
18) Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
19) Lauren Ashley McCain
20) Daniel Patrick O’Neil
21) Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz
22) Minal Hiralal Panchal
23) Daniel Alejandro Perez Cueva
24) Erin Nicole Peterson
25) Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
26) Julia Kathleen Pryde
27) Mary Karen Read
28) Reema Joseph Samaha
29) Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
30) Leslie Geraldine Sherman
31) Maxine Shelly Turner
32) Nicole Regina White

I will neVer forgeT... 4/16/07

I was privileged to be with Tara on this adventure, and I join her in sending my thoughts and prayers to all those who will never forget. (tattoo done at Great Southern Tattoo Co. in Alexandria, VA...thanks for great quick work!)