Hundreds of people gathered in the Martin Luther King Commons Saturday afternoon to honor the five victims of the Feb. 14, 2008 shootings.

NIU President John Peters led a procession of people, including the victims’ families, from the south door of the Holmes Student Center to the site of the proposed Memorial Garden east of Cole Hall.

There, wreaths were placed in front of each of the five boards representing the planned memorial. Every person who followed the procession was then given the opportunity to walk past the wreaths and pay their respects.

Students, faculty and people from across the state waited in a line that crossed the bridge between Cole Hall and Neptune Hall and stretched almost to Founders Memorial Library.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was among the dignitaries in attendance. Gov. Quinn shook the hands of many of the people there, stopping to compliment an NIU student on her Huskies sweatshirt. The governor said the entire state of Illinois was impressed with the way NIU handled the tragedy.

He said he went to the victims’ funerals and met with their families, and it is important to remember the lives that have been lost.

“It’s important we put together a memorial to honor the lives that were lost,” Quinn said. “This campus should really hold its head up high.”

Gov. Quinn said the sound of the water running through the campus by the memorial reminded him of the voices of the victims. He said they will always be with us.

Vaughn Mueller, junior time arts major, said he thinks the memorial is a perfect way to honor the victims.

“I think the location is perfect,” Mueller said.

Amanda Perry, pre-med, said the idea for the memorial suits the campus well.
“I think its a really good idea to honor them,” Perry said. “I like the idea that there is going to be benches so people can reflect.”

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