Email from Gail Kirby...

Here is the text of an email from Gail Kirby that I received about a week ago...

Emily and Miriam-

Greetings from Virginia Tech! As you have surely discovered by now, I'm not much of a correspondent. However, that does not mean I've forgotten you! I've been working on some filing and archiving and am constantly reminded of your thoughtfulness, generosity and support when we badly needed it. Should I ever have the opportunity to meet you personally, I plan to hug your necks! Weeks ago I promised Emily some photos of the Ut Prosim project, and they are attached. You can't really get a complete sense of the "greenhouse effect" that we had on the day that the peace lilies arrived! Visitors to the office were speechless and overwhelmed by the support. The other photos are of the room that we set up to dispense your care packages, cards and letters sent to the staff and students, and to display all of the expressions of sympathy and support received from colleagues around the nation. I hope that you can use these few pics on the blog and feel free to paraphrase or quote me. Your efforts have been greatly appreciated by all of us.

Recovery in the Hokie Nation is well underway, and the strength and resolve of our continuing and new Hokies is pretty amazing. New student orientation started last week and the pride that our new students and families exhibit is a little unexpected and very welcomed. We continue to mourn the loss of students and faculty, and are doing everything possible to continue with all support and involvement possible with their families. We are looking forward to the start of the new school year with a return to the "new normal," and please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.

As of this writing, I have retired from the university as I'd planned since last summer. The new director of Residence Life is Dr. Leon McClinton and I'm sure he will welcome future contact, as will your friend and mine, Shawn Shumaker. I will always remember your thoughtfulness-

Warm regards,
Gail Kirby
(Past) Interim Director of Residence Life


See the next 2 posts for the aforementioned photos...