Last night, a crowd gathered in Old Town for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the 67 victims of a midair crash near Reagan National Airport last week.
Among the speakers at the event were elected leaders from the region including Sen. Tim Kaine, Rep. Don Beyer and Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins.
“A week ago the whole nation turned its eyes to this riverfront, to the place we call home, and it’s been really difficult to comprehend that our place could also be a place of such sorrow,” Beyer said. “In times of loss we try to make sense of a tragedy, but it really doesn’t make any sense.”
Beyer and other leaders also thanked first responders who assisted with the recovery.
Earlier this week, the remains of all 67 victims were finally recovered from the Potomac River. Among the victims was a mother and daughter from Alexandria.
Local leaders said they were inspired by the way Northern Virginia came together in the wake of tragedy.
“Wisdom means linking arms with others; in good times to celebrate and especially in tough times to mourn and hold each other up, especially those who lost their friends or lost their family, and this community knows how to do that,” Kaine said.
“Our hearts are heavy,” Gaskins said. “It’s difficult to think about all the lives, what they could have been, what amazing things they were going to do for their communities and for their country… What is not hard is to look around and see a community around us. In every moment since this horrific tragedy we’ve been able to see neighbors and friends and folks coming together with one question: how do I help? How do I lend a hand?”
