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The following is a Counterpoint:

By Lynda Torgersen

I wanted to thank the whole community in and around Greensboro for the show of support after the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

Friends, neighbors and people whom I had never met went out of their way to offer condolences and prayers to me and my family. My husband and I were both raised in the Blacksburg area with strong ties to Virginia Tech. Our daughter is a sophomore there and our son will be attending in the fall as a freshman. My father-in-law has been teaching at the school for more than 40 years. The Israeli professor who lost his life as he held off the gunman so his students could escape was a next-door neighbor to my in-laws.

In fact, my husband, his father and our daughter were all on campus and were caught in the lockdown during the tragic event.

My place of employment all wore orange and maroon as a show of support April 20. We have received numerous phone calls and cards from people we haven't heard from in years just to let us know they were thinking about us and our daughter. Local news has shown where local universities have also reached out to Virginia Tech. I know there are a lot of Hokies in the Greensboro area, and I am sure they all feel the same way.

The horrific event of April 16 will never be forgotten. But it makes it much easier when you know the whole community is supporting the Virginia Tech family. Thirty-two wonderful people lost their lives and I cannot imagine what those families are going through. I do know they are receiving enormous support from their communities and Virginia Tech. All of our prayers are with them.

The Hokie Nation will become stronger. I do not have any doubt about that. We will prevail.

The writer is a Virginia Tech alumna, Class of '85, who lives in Greensboro.