I woke up on Aug. 26, a resident of the Bridgewater College community. My heart, however, is still a member of the Roanoke/Salem community.
That's why I was completely heartbroken, sickened, and shocked to watch the videos of the murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward. Those were the only emotions I could feel. Heartbroken for the fellow members of my community that were victims of senseless violence carried out by a disturbed monster. Sickened from hearing the terrified screams and sounds of gunshots ringing out, and from the idea that someone could take honor in robbing innocent peoples' lives. Shocked that this type of tragedy had reached our community.
Those videos and emotions are ones that we will never be able to forget. We can never forget terror that swept over us as we came to grips with what had occurred. We can never understand the pain that the families and loved ones are going through, having to watch the lives of their own ripped from them.
Alison Parker was not just another news reporter. Watching her reports on WDBJ7, you could tell that she was truly invested in what was happening in our community. She wanted to tell the stories she obtained to the fullest extent and as accurately as they could be. Ryan Parkhurst, a professor at James Madison University, where Parker attended, remembered her as "one of the most driven students I'd ever knew. She was very sure of what she wanted to do which is rare when you're first starting out in college." WDBJ colleague Kimberly McBroom called Alison a "rock star." This was a trend that many of her colleagues shared, remembering Alison as a top journalist, and a welcoming human being. The 24-year-old journalist had even found love, having dated fellow WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst for nine months. She was just starting her life.
Adam Ward attended the same high school I did, Salem High School. His father, Buddy, was one of our guidance counselors during my time at the high school. As Salem principal Scott Habeeb told ABC affiliate WSET, "Adam was exactly the type of person you want in your high school. Adam had a huge heart. I like to think of him sort of the way Rudy was in that movie, where it was all about enthusiasm, passion and heart." Ward had also found love, as he was engaged to Melissa Ott, the producer WDBJ Mornin'. Her last day on the show was Aug. 26, as she had gotten another job in Charlotte. They were about to enter a brand new phase of their life together.
Neither had the chance to live those new phases out. And that is heartbreaking for our community.
Most people in our community did not know either Parker or Ward personally. They more than likely only watched them do their jobs on TV every day. Yet, when the events happened, we couldn't help but feel like we had just lost two of our own. "Every morning we watch these people on TV, it's like they're part of your family," said Roanoke resident Donna Toliver about Alison and Adam.
Even if you didn't know them personally, we felt a connection to them. They weren't just personalities that worked for a TV network. They were members of our community. People who took pride in bringing us the news of our community. Prideful in the jobs they did and the stories they told.
They felt like they a part of our families. Like they were ours.
And now, in the wake of this tragedy, we have to try healing as a community.
That is the toughest part of this. Healing and trying to move forward as a community. We're all still reeling from what we witnessed. There is no way to snap your fingers, and in an instant, we've gotten past the tragic events we all saw Wednesday morning. It's impossible to move on that quickly, if ever.
So, the only way I see fit to heal is to honor Alison Parker and Adam Ward. To never move on from them, but to move forward with their memories and legacies with us.
There are already movements to memorialize the legacies of both Ward and Parker. The Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association has announced a scholarship in memory of Ward, which you can donate to. James Madison University is also in the process of establishing a scholarship in Parker's memory, as well as Patrick Henry Community College. These scholarships ensure us that both of these lives will leave a resounding impact on the community they've been so invested in.
We've seen many tributes to both Alison and Adam. A memorial has been formed outside the WDBJ station, where many community members have come out to pay their respects to the two fallen journalists. Across the state of Virginia and our nation, many different news stations and communities have reached out to show support for WDBJ and the families of Parker and Ward. WDBJ is honoring their fallen colleagues on the air, remaining strong and committed to each other and to our city.
"All day, people have been teary, they've been hugging, and they've been doing their jobs as journalist," Jeffrey Marks, president and general manager of WDBJ, stated in the aftermath of the shooting.
As a member of that community, I'm grateful for WDBJ and how they've handled everything since Wednesday.
They've shown us one very important thing that we must remember going forward.
We are not alone in coping with this. We are a community.
During my junior year at Salem, a student at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke named Kendall Bayne was diagnosed with a rare type of life-threatening cancer, a devastating diagnosis to her, her family, and her fellow students. When our school heard of her story, we felt we could help encourage Kendall by standing as one with her. One student called Cave Spring and was given permission to sell purple "Team Kendall" t-shirts. The next week, Salem and Cave Spring had a football game, and instead of wearing our usual maroon and gray, every Salem Superfan wore our purple "Team Kendall" shirts to the stadium, uniting us all in encouraging Kendall.
The game felt bigger than just two teams playing against each other. It felt like our community was one that night, whether you were a Salem Spartan or Cave Spring Knight. It didn't matter what your background was or where you came from. All that mattered was that you were there to support Kendall.
We were one that night.
Which brings us back to the aftermath of the Aug. 26, shootings. A lot of people are hurting. There are no words that take away that pain, especially for the families. Nothing can be said to make the loss any easier to deal with. The only thing we can do, as a community, is to stand with the families and the members of WDBJ. To unite around them and offer our support, whether that be something as simple as a prayer or preparing your own tribute to both Parker and Ward, which the Collegiate Times, the student run newspaper at Adam's alma mater Virginia Tech, has already done.
#RoanokeStrong is not just for show. We are strong and tightly bonded community. This is our chance to live out Roanoke Strong and show what it truly means, in remembrance of Alison and Adam.
I've been asked a few times in the past couple days about how I was doing in the wake of the shooting. I've often answered, "I'm hurt, but our community is strong." We are still shocked, still reeling, and still hurting. Yet, we are strong, and we will remain strong in the face of the evil that took place Wednesday.
To Alison and Adam, thank you for coming into our homes and bringing us the news of our community. Thank you for being so invested in this community and being committed to showing us the best of who we are. As an aspiring journalist, thank you for showing pride in your work and giving us the true example of loving what you do and doing what you love. Simply put, thank you, Alison Parker and Adam Ward, for being ours.
You told the stories of our community so proudly.
Now, our community will proudly tell your stories and honor your memories.
We love you and we miss you.
