Returning students greeted on highway

Electronic message boards along Interstate 81 on Sunday will flash this message to greet students who are returning to campus: "Welcome VT. Drive Safely."

"We're doing this to honor Virginia Tech," said VDOT spokesman Chuck Lionberger in Salem. "We anticipate heavy traffic on I-81 and on U.S. 460 in the New River Valley," Lionberger added. On Friday, for half an hour starting at noon, the agency's message boards throughout the state flashed the message, "In honor of Virginia Tech, drive safely."

Wristband sales effort retracted by Virginia Tech

The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will not be offering Hokie Nation wristbands, as previously reported. The chamber has been informed by Virginia Tech that it would prefer not to initiate this effort at this time.

Soldiers in Afghanistan pay tribute to Tech

Soldiers and sailors at PRT Farah Afghanistan gathered Friday morning for a memorial service honoring the students killed and wounded in the Virginia Tech massacre. PRT Commander Frank Hughlett is a graduate of Virginia Tech.

"We value human life, whether it is in Afghanistan, or Blacksburg, Virginia. We're far from home, and whether it's 33 Afghans or 33 Americans, the value of human life is precious," he said. Flags were lowered to half-mast as Capt. Terry Hestilow, a former Baptist pastor, led the troops in a prayer.

Marching Virginians to play at memorial

Some 100 members of the Virginia Tech marching band plan to participate in today's memorial service for Ryan Clark at the east Georgia high school where he graduated.

Clark, 22, was a resident adviser and a member of the marching band.

Marsie Anderson, a history teacher at Lakeside High School in Evans, is helping coordinate the service. Clark and his twin brother, Bryan, graduated from Lakeside in 2002. Clark's funeral is planned for Monday at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta.

President donned maroon and orange tie Friday

WASHINGTON -- President Bush wore a maroon-and-orange tie Friday in honor of the Hokie colors.

The shooting will also be the topic of Bush's weekly radio address, recorded Friday and scheduled to air today. The White House took the rare step of making the text of the address available for publication before its delivery.