Andrew Huck
Published: February 20, 2009

DEKALB – The Northern Illinois University community gathered to remember the shootings that happened one year ago today.

Hundreds came to remember by writing messages, reading acts of kindness, and looking at the now vacant building where the shootings took place.

Greg Zanis, a local carpenter, made the crosses that stood on this hill. After the shootings the hardest part for him was taking them down.

“I came out a Saturday night around three in the morning it was just so hard to take them down,” said Zanis.

He returned with new crosses he made special for this day that he will give to the victims’ families.

Northern Illinois students Ashley Blair and Valerie Silverstein helped paint tiles that will be put together to make a memorial mosaic. Since the shootings Ashley always knows where her friends are on campus.

“We actually give each other our schedules so know I know what building they’re in and what time they’re in so if it happens again I know where they are and I don’t have to worry about them,” said Blair.

Valerie appreciates her friends and family more. “I don’t really take anything for granted anymore. I kind of live each day as it is and I appreciate my friends and family more who were there for me,” said Silverstein.

For Talal Alqahtani and Haitham Felemban, two friends from Saudi Arabia, the school has become a safer campus community over the past year.

“You can talk to anybody on the campus and share the moments,” said Alqahtani. “The campus is more secure than before and that is good for us as students,” adds Felemban.

Over the past year it is events like this candle light vigil that brings the student body together and keeps the Huskie spirit strong and the community cheering for the red and black.

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com