Nearly 300 people filled the sanctuary at St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church on Friday, April 20 for the memorial mass of Mary Karen Read. Read was one of 33 people killed at Virginia Tech last week.
Many of those who came knew her, some did not, but all in attendance came to show solidarity both with the Read family and with the families of all of the victims from last week’s shooting. The majority of those who filled the pews wore burgundy and orange — the colors of Virginia Tech.
"All over America people are in shock and mourning at such savagery," said Rev. James S. Barkett, who conducted Friday’s service. "Many of us don’t know what to do — this wasn’t an auto accident or a sickness … it was so sudden, so horrible, so violent."
Read was a freshman at Tech and graduated from Annandale High School in 2006. She has been remembered as a quiet, friendly girl who went to Virginia Tech along with many of her graduating class from Annandale. She has also been remembered as someone who was friendly to everyone she knew or met, even strangers.
Read’s Facebook page flooded with posts from friends and well-wishers in the days following her death. Colby Swank attended Annandale with Read and said that Read’s spirits helped to lift those of others.
"I cannot remember her ever not smiling or being in a happy mood. Even though [Mary] and I were not best friends, she would always take time to ask me how I was doing and actually wait for a response," wrote Swank.
"You treated me as a friend when I had just met you," wrote Kat Welsh, who said that she attended middle school with Read. "You're honestly one of the sweetest people I've ever met and possibly will ever meet. It's just hard to believe that you won't be at our high school reunion, successful as ever with that smile on your face."
Barkett asked all Virginia Tech students in attendance at Read’s memorial service to stand, and a dozen burgundy and orange-clad mourners rose. Barkett blessed them.
"Today, everyone is a Hokie — it’s a Hokie nation," Barkett said.
Barkett urged that those who grieve for Read and the other victims to grieve with hope for the future. What should be taken away from the tragedy, said Barkett, is that all people should be treated with love and respect.
"Make sure today, tomorrow, and the next day that you tell the ones you love that you love them."