When I heard at 9:00 a.m. this morning that my friend Ryan Clark had been shot in the leg and was in the hospital, the Virginia Tech shooting had a personal place in my heart. When I found out that he had not made it this evening, it was a reality to me.
Stack always made me laugh. I spent most of my moments with him in the Marching Virginians. Everybody loved him, and his smile and good memories will always live on in our heart.
62 Comments
Andrew,
I’m sorry to hear about your loss, and I thank you for helping the world stay on top of this very personal event. My prayers are with you and everyone else living with this tragedy. I wish you all peace and healing.
Andrew,
We’re very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.
Max and Emily
Andrew,
I’m so sorry to hear of your great loss! My prayers are with all the students, family, friends, faculty and anyone touched by this tragedy! I can’t imagine the sorrow and emptiness this has placed upon your hearts! God Bless!
Deanna (Troutville, VA)
I doubt we’ve ever met, but keep in mind that Hokies near and far are thinking of you.
Andy,
I’m so sorry to hear the news that Stack had passed away this afternoon. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Stack’s family, and the Hokie nation on this tragic day.
Matt’s right. Hokies near and far are thinking about those involved into today’s tradegy. Sorry to hear about your friend.
Andrew- I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. My prayers are with his family and you. So glad to hear you are safe. ~Meghan
I’m so sorry for your loss. The world has lost a wonderful person.
Sorry for your loss from the folks at forums.clubrsx.com
I didn’t know Ryan but something about him made me want to set up a group for him on Yahoo. Everything I’ve read indicates a wonderful young man, full of life and humor and promise. I am so sorry that he is gone. My prayers go out to Ryan’s family and friends.
“Where Do We Go From Here”
A peaceful place
We counted on
But, suddenly these chains of fear moved in
And now our peace is gone
Now school is just a memory
Of wilted,fallen souls
And,we’re left here to carry on
With our hearts filled with empty holes
Forever,rain will fall upon
Our thoughts of days remembered
The fear we have embraces us
Like cold days in December
Angels in the mist of dawn
Bowed their heads and cried
As one by one such innocense
Crossed the bridge to the rainbow’s side
Can someone answer our question
While anger wrestles fear
In a world where violence follows us
” Where do we go from here ”
I’m just a caring person from Scranton,Pa,who wants to send my prayers out to all of you for what you went through,I’m so sorry about Ryan,and all those other innocent hearts that got taken so early
Hello,
I am a Canadian who sends his thoughts and prayers to all of you. Our nation stands ever so close to yours in such time of sorrow.
hey man, sorry about ryan. give me a call sometime and ill try to make a trip up
I did not know Ryan, I just saw the news about Ryan and my heart goes out to his family and friends, and to all of the families and friends who lost a loved one… They will be in my thoughts and prayers.
My heart goes out to each and everyone who was in this tragedy, y’all are in my prayers, keep the good memories in your heart. “heaven has no sorrow that it cannot heal”
Stack and Virginia Tech,
We are praying for all of those involved in the tragedy there. I do not attend school in VA but everyone down here at Texas Tech are praying for you. You are in our thoughts and on our minds.
So sad to hear the tragic news. We woke this morning to hear on the news. Reading this blog makes it seem more real rather than just listening to the news reports. We are all in shock and can only imagine how horrific it is.
From Liz (Sydney, Australia)
Hey there - I am trying to do my own research on this whole shooting. I came across your related post on facebook and Just thought I would say I am very sorry to hear about your personal lost due to this horrific event. My prayers are with you and anyone else who knew your friend that didn’t make it. Take care and God’s blessing and comfort to you.
No words can console. All your fellow students around the country feel your pain. Nothing any of us can say will make it feel better. Your friend is in a better place. I and my whole college sends our condolences.
Prayers from San Francisco for you, Ryan’s family, the entire student body and all those affected by these tragic events.
The prayers of myself and everyone here at Auburn University go out to you and everyone else affected by today’s events. Every college student in the country is a Hokie today.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
I was a high school student during the time of Columbine. I was not there, but felt the effects, though I will never quite understand what it felt. I run a residence hall at the University of Central Oklahoma, outside Oklahoma City. I will be praying for the residence halls, the staff, the friends and family, and all the families. My heart and mind is with you all.
My prayers go out to ryan’s family, his friends and everyone who was in this tragic event,and the familys of thoses who lose a love one
cameron
Sorry i messed up on a word so I had to do it over. My prayers go out to Ryan’s family, his friends and everyone who was in this tragic event,and the familys of thoses who lost a love one
cameron
Hello, I am not a hokie but I am a fellow college student from Penn State and want to send my prayer’s out to Ryan’s family and all of the other victims that suffered from this tragic event.
I am so sad for the parents, family, and friends of this terrible tragedy. My condolences to you. The world will miss these great kids.
You guys are in our prayers.
Brad (Norman, Okla.)
i grew up in blacksburg and my dad was a professor there (and used to teach at Norris). we’re praying for you, for Ryan, for Ryan’s family…
This sucks.
I hope everyone at Virginia Tech can feel the love being sent to them. I wish we could do more.
This sucks.
My heart goes out to him!!! I seen him on Nightline and I was so sad!!! My god be with you!!! And they say the good die young!!! R.I.P Stack!!! Texas Southern University!!!
I’m so sorry for your loss. Ryan seemed like such a great guy. When I heard about him on the news, I wanted to look him up and I’m glad he has so many close friends to pray for him.
I want to express my sympathies for Ryan and his family. I too have a son in his first year of college named Ryan. I can’t tell you how upsetting this has been for me. It’s so hard to make sense out of a senseless act, but please know that we are not about the different schools, the different colors, etc. We are all americans,and we we mourn the loss of all the students, so today our prayers go to the orange and maroon! May God bring peace to the faculty, familes, and students! We will keep praying for all of you!
I am so sorry to hear about your loss and the tragic events that occured at VA Tech. I am praying for the families and students and I hope that you continue to be strong.
2 Cor 1:3-5 says
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows” - We share in your sorrow but know that Christ is your strength esp. in times as such
Andrew man,
sorry to hear about your loss, let me know if theres anything i can do. be safe man.
I don’t know Ryan. I don’t know any of you. I live in Evansville, In. and I can’t imagine something tragic like this happening here. Just the way you thought before yesterday. I can’t seem to turn the channel to anything else but news stations to find out the latest information. I’m just speechless, because your reading all the names of these students. With all this ambition, drive, and goals. Studying to be this or that. They were all just starting their life. And it was all taken away. It’s just honestly heart wrenching. My (with the rest of america’s)prayers and thoughts are with the students, staff, friends and family members of virginia tech now, and the long months to come. May God be with you and give you strength.
I am so very sorry for your loss!! Please know that every college campus around the nation is in sorrow! You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Remember the good times you shared- they can take him away but they can never take away your memories! God Bless!
Wow. I am so impressed by all of the support and love from all over the country. God can show in even the worst times. I cried for you all in VA tech.
Sorry for your loss. You’re all in my prayers.
Much like the rest of the world, I have been shocked from yesterday’s news! It’s unbelievable that something like this could happen at a place where students are encouraged to feel safe and at home!
When I heard of your friend Ryan, who was an RA my heart was filled with even more pain and sorrow…knowing that even without knowing him…he was probably a huge pressence in your dorm. Being a former dorm staff memeber, I am sure that Ryan was not only thinking of himself during this horrific event, but also of the safety of his residents/friends!
My prayers and thoughts go out to all of the V. Tech family (students, professors, staff and their families) in this moment of tragedy! Not only are you receiving prayers from Hokies, but also from my extended family and Alma Mater, the Canes!
Just like the rest of the world, we are shocked and sadded by the tragedy at your school. TO Ryan, I don’t you. But my prayers to you and the rest of the families who lost their loved ones.
IT IS A SHOCK TO KNOW THAT EVIL PEOPLE LIKE THIS YOUNG MAN ARE AMONG THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD. I’M SURE THAT STACK WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SOME YOUNG CHILD’S LIFE. SO, FOR HIM TO LOSE HIS AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE IS A GREAT TRAGEDY. EVERYONE AT VT IS IN MY PRAYERS AND YOU ALL HAVE MY DEEPEST SYMPOTHY. MAY GOD KEEP AND BLESS ALL OF YOU!
Andrew I’m really sorry that you lost a friend yesterday. Everyone in Knoxville is praying for the Hokie Nation.
I just wanted to say im sorry for your lose and for all the family memembers that lost a loved one and for all the ones that lost a friend on that horrible day. My prayers and thoughts go out to everyone!
I’m sorry about the loss of your friend and fellow classmates. This is gonna be so hard but I know it will make Virginia Tech students even stronger!! East Tennessee State University is praying for you!
Hey man, I’m so sorry about your friend. I don’t think many of us can imagine what you and the rest of the community must be faced with right now. Know that our thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Take care,
Rich
I am so sorry about your friend. Ryan seemed to live life to the fullest. He is a wonderfull person. You are all in my prayers…
God bless
Monica
To Andrew and all other VT students, staff, families and friends, I’m so sorry for your losses, words can’t explain or abate the horrible pain you must all be feeling after such a tragic event. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I hope that we can all find a way to help VT heal from this tragedy through love, support, and kindness. Dawson College School had a shooting recently in Montreal (Quebec), and the truth is, there’s simply no easy way to understand, let alone “bounce back” from such a horrible experience. My heart goes out for everyone affected by this tragedy. Unite with others, forgive and forget and realize that life is uncertain, it’s too short to be filled with hate and anger. Try to be around those who you love and are loved by, work through the pain, always remembering those who were lost.
Take care and never lose hope, we are all with you today–every student, every teacher, every person…we must all unite to overcome the pain and hardship of this senseless tragedy at VT.
Stay strong.
Sincerely,
Juliette
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Thoughts and prayers from Kansas during this tragic time. So sorry for your loss and all of the losses.
Our prayers from Washington State are with you during this time, may god bless you and bring you strength to overcome this tragedy.
I am so sorry for your lost. My prayers are with everyone who lost someone. God bless!
Im very sorry for your loss. Know that my heart is with you and prayers are to God bless and will be praying for you
Words can’t even come close to describing how deeply my heart goes out to the VT family and community. My thoughts and prayers will not only be with you today, but for the coming days, week, and months as we all come to terms with this tragedy. Stay strong and God Bless.
I understand that you may be sick and tired of hearing sorry and our prayers are with you, but as someone who has lost a friend in a different situation but just as tradgic, I understand. I understand the pain and sorrow and mourning. It really is a terrible thing that this individual felt they had to do this but it was what they did. It’s really scaring to think that this could have been me and that could happen tomarrow. I’m currently in college and I never think twice about there being someone to enter a building with a weapon. My condolences to you and the loss of the others who were victims. It’s a real heartace that someone who has accomplished so much be taken away from us before their time has come. I have these last words that I now live by after my loss of a friend from high school, Live today for tomarrow may never come. May God be with you in your time of grief and mourning. From South Brunswick, New Jersey. Katie
May him r.i.p
In memorium of Ryan clark and the other 31 people who did not survive, people in Ohio pray that all of you are at peace. Its’ just so heart breaking. Ohio sends its love, support and prayers. May you guys enjoy your afterlife in Heaven with our Heavenly Father. Peace, love and prayers forever!
-josh-
Can someone keep me informed about the scholarship fund being set up fot “STACK”. My heart is breaking for all involved and I would like to do my little bit to maybe help lift the burden of pain.
GOD BLESS
Jon 6
I came across this somehow on Facebook…but from all of the Marching Illini Baritones,the Marching Illini, and the entire University of Illinois, we’re so sorry for all of your losses. Seriously, what a tragedy.
We’re sure you guys are going to be getting a million cards, but another was dropped in the mail this morning. Hang in there.
-Chris
I’m so sorry for your loss and
My deepest sympathies go out to everyone in Verginia Tech.
hope you overcome this tragedy soon.
god bless.
-Grace-
I am so sorry that such a terrible tragedy has claimed the life a very special person to you. I hope that you will stay strong and remember and cherish every moment that you every spent with him. I wish someone would have caught on to what was going on with that guy before it happened. I did not know anyone that was killed or injured in the shooting but it has affected me. I am so sorry!
With deepest sympathy,
Adrionna
(West Virginia)
my name is stephanie and i live in GA..i go to atlanta christian college..just wanted to say how sorry i am for the losses on 4/16/07..wanted to let you know that even how far away my school is we held a prayer service for everyone at VT, may god be with all of you and your friends and families in this time of need..may you find comfort and healing in God..may he help you with this tragic event…god bless all of you!!
My heart is heavy for such a loss of a beautiful spirit that i never knew.
Some times when we look back at such a life we realize that a person such as ryan came to this earth as an angel to touch our lives to let us know what true love and caring is all about.
May peace and blessings be forever upon his family especially his twin and may they alawys kmow that time has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure!!!!!!