Governor Gregoire Asks Washingtonians to Join Her in a Moment of Silence for Victims of Virginia Tech Tragedy

For Immediate Release: April 19, 2007

Governor asks for one-minute of silence, or tolling of the bell, on Friday, April 20

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire, in solidarity with the Commonwealth of Virginia, today asked all Washingtonians to observe one-minute of silence at 9:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 p.m. EDT) on Friday, April 20, 2007, in memory of the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

�As governor and the parent of a college student, my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones, the students, faculty and staff at Virginia Tech who are in shock that something like this could happen on their campus, and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, which I know is struggling to make sense out of this senseless act of violence,� said Governor Gregoire.

Governor Gregoire requests that, where appropriate, bells be tolled during this time of observance.

Governor Gregoire on Tuesday ordered all Washington state flags be lowered to half-staff until the morning of Monday, April 23, 2007, in memory of the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy.

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