Graduation Day at Virginia Tech

Today marks an important step for the Virginia Tech community. It's graduation day for thousands of students and is the first since the April 16 massacre of 31 students by Seung Hui Cho.

Today, Scott and thousands of others will graduate, walking across the stage less than four weeks after Seung Hui Cho killed 32 people and injured 29 more before killing himself. In many ways, the graduation promises to be like any other.

The students, under the gaze of family members, will fill Lane Stadium and listen as retired Army Gen. John P. Abizaid gives the commencement speech. They will flip tassels, cheer and applaud. They will party afterward.

But like the weeks that preceded it, the day will oscillate between merriment and mourning.

The students who were killed will receive posthumous degrees in their areas of study, each name read out loud.

I wish the graduation class lots of luck and wish them well. This semester has probably been one of the most difficul times of their lives and while many will reflect on the tragic circumstances, they should be proud of their accomplishments.