Virginia Tech tragedy hits close to home
" Inspiration is everywhere as we " get through this. - CHS graduate and Virginia Tech teacher Britta Long

Coudersport native Britta Long captured several scenes from the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., including a memorial placed outside the building where students were gunned down. She also included a picture of herself (upper right) on her way to a Hokies football game last fall, as a symbol of the indomitable spirit of the Va. Tech "family." The lower three scenes were captured by Paul Burdick at Saturday's Penn State Blue-White football game, where students and supporters, including Coudersport teacher Teena Erway (bottom left), showed their support for Virginia Tech with maroon and orange.

Last week's tragedy at Virginia Tech continues to be a major focus of attention locally, as s c h o o l l e a d e r s , m e n t a l h e a l t h professionals and others come to terms with the multiple issues the s h o o t i n g s have brought to the surface.

Among the fatalities was Jeremy Herbstritt, 27, the grandson of Thomas and Mary Snelick Herbstritt of St. Marys. Herbstritt was attending Virginia Tech as a graduate student studying civil engineering. His parents, Mike and Peggy Meier Herbstritt, are Elk County natives now living in C e n t r e County.

T h e tragedy hit close to home for a Coudersport family too. Britta Long, a 1998 graduate of Coudersport H i g h School and the daughter of Richard Long and Janet Anderson Long, is a communication skills instructor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

She was teaching in McBryde Hall, just two doors down, when the shooting was taking place in Norris Hall. At that point, two of her students had emailed her to report they'd be unable to attend classes, due to a lockdown at West Ambler Johnston.

It wasn't until she arrived at her office in another building, after walking with colleagues amid the chaos of police and other emergency response vehicles, that Long learned of the extent of the tragedy.

She spent more than two hours locked down at her office -- alone, shades drawn -- monitoring Internet and television accounts, uncertain of what was transpiring all around her.

While undestandably traumatized after learning the extent of the tragedy, Long recognized that her role as a teacher and source of stability and perspective was critical when it came to her students.

"I've experienced a wide range of emotions as an alumni and now a faculty member of Virginia Tech," Long told Endeavor News. "One of my students lost a close friend and another lost his resident advisor. Needless to say, when the classes resumed this past Monday, we strayed from the curriculum and dealt with it as a group."

Long said she is thankful beyond words for the outpouring of support she has received. Phone calls and emails have come in from all over. Several local family members and friends traveled to Blacksburg last weekend to spend time with her.

They toured the campus to see the shrines and other remembrances and expressions of support for the Virginia Tech "family" that are everywhere

"Inspiration is everywhere as we get through this," she said. "I was deeply touched by the people who contacted me personally and I remain very impressed with the demonstration of the human spirit that I've experienced since the incident."

Support for Virginia Tech was also evident on Saturday, as at residents ventured to Penn State's Beaver Stadium for the annual Blue-White Game.

Paul Burdick, a Potter County educator and fervent Penn State fan, observed that, for one day, the campus wasn't blue and white, but maroon and orange. "The message was, 'We stand together with you and, at a time like this, we really are all Hokies'."