Virginia Tech to Honor Slain Journalists in Football Season Opener

Virginia Tech’s athletics department announced Monday the team will wear special patches to honor the slain Roanoke television reporters in its season opener against defending national champion Ohio State on Labor Day night.

Alison Parker and Adam Ward, a Virginia Tech graduate, were shot and killed during an on-air report for CBS affiliate WDBJ-7 last week in Roanoke, only an hour from the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg.

To honor Parker and Ward, the Hokies will don a sticker with the No. 7 and teal and maroon ribbons; the No. 7 is for the television station, the teal is to honor Parker’s favorite color and the maroon represents Ward’s alumni status with the university.

Tech said it has already honored the two journalists at sporting events taking place last weekend in the form of moments of silence and free teal and maroon ribbon giveaways to fans in attendance.

Tech has also established scholarships in Parker and Ward’s names. For more information about how to contribute to the scholarships, click here.

Image credit: Virginia Tech