Families Touched by Tragedy Celebrate Thanksgiving
posted 10:23 am Tue November 20, 2007 - Richmond, Va.
This year, however, the Springfield, Va., family's traditions will be quietly set aside on their first Thanksgiving since Leslie, 20, was killed in the April 16 Virginia Tech shootings that left 33 dead.
Leslie's parents and sister will go to a relative's house for dinner. Her mother, Holly Sherman, will be polite and eat her meal. She will spend a little time with her family. After that, she may go visit Leslie's grave. Holly thinks of this and weeps.
She worries about balancing her grief with the celebratory nature of the holiday.
"We don't want to be the symbol of sadness and bring sadness into somebody else's home on an otherwise joyous occasion," she says.
"We'll be forging new territory."
Last week, a co-worker handed her a card. Inside was a quote: "Be courageous. It's one of the only places left uncrowded."
Latest Comment on Families Touched by Tragedy Celebrate Thanksgiving
newsreadr
6:40 pm on 11/22/07
My thoughts go out to her family on this special day. I have a friend of mine whom she went to the same high school with.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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