Today on this first anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech we grieve. We do so together for family members, for neighbors, for members of our community and our Commonwealth. The tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the lives cut short. But it also can be an important memory of the overwhelming power of the "Hokie Spirit" that brought together the campus, this Commonwealth and our nation in the wake the tragedy.

We've made tremendous and significant steps forward on the policy issues that came to light from this terrible tragedy. But the focus today is on our communities and our families. Today we grieve with our friends in the Virginia Tech community and share our heartfelt sympathies with the families of those who lost loved ones on that tragic day.

I hope you will join Governor Kaine in a statewide moment of silence at noon today.