Governor declares day of mourning for Virginia victims
As experts pored over Cho Seung Hui's twisted writings and his videotaped rant today, parents and officials urged people to instead focus on the victims of the deadliest rampage by a lone gunman in modern US history.
Gov Timothy Kaine declared today a day of mourning and called for a moment of silence at noon to honour the 32 victims in Monday's massacre at Virginia Tech.
Churches around the US, from California to National Cathedral in Washington DC, have scheduled vigils and special prayer services.
"We want the world to know and celebrate our children's lives, and we believe that's the central element that brings hope in the midst of great tragedy," said Peter Read, whose 19-year-old daughter, Mary Karen, was killed.
"These kids were the best that their generation has to offer."
Private funeral ceremonies were held yesterday for two international students killed in the massacre.
Egyptian Waleed Mohammed Shaalan and Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan, a civil engineering doctoral student from Indonesia, also will have funerals in their home countries.
In Israel today, a funeral was held for shooting victim, Professor Liviu Librescu, who has been lauded for saving the lives of many of his students.
