WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Marching Virginians honor fallen Hokie Ryan Clark
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Virginia Tech will kick off its season this Saturday at Atlanta's Georgia Dome against Alabama.
The Marching Virginians will be making the trip but they'll be stopping in Augusta beforehand for what is expected to be an emotional performance.
It's to honor one of the victims killed during the April 16th shootings.
The Marching Virginians have had plenty of big performances including many on national TV, but Friday night's maybe the most important of them all.
"I've been looking forward to going to Atlanta for a real long time as soon as I found out we are going to Augusta and doing this performance, I've stepped it up another notch," says Marching Virginian Steve Rich.
The band will perform at Lakeside High School near Augusta.
This is where Ryan Clark went to high school, a beloved Marching Virginian who was killed on April 16th.
Around here, he's affectionately called Stack.
"Stack was a great guy. He was the only guy I could know that could have three majors and not even break a sweat and still come to practice and smile everyday," says Marching Virginian Alex Nette.
Ryan may be gone but he's definitely not forgotten.
The band hopes the special visit to Ryan's high school Friday night shows his mom and the community he is still loved here at Virginia Tech.
Before that show, the Marching Virginians will perform the national anthem with the two high schools who are playing each other. Then during half-time the band will perform a 12 minute tribute for Ryan.
It will include some well known Hokie songs as well as Amazing Grace.
It's a show Ryan's friends say won't be easy.
"We were practicing the other night Amazing Grace and I was playing as best I could with just like crying, tears streaming down my face," says Marching Virginian Ali Wood.
Amazing Grace has that affect on people and this performance should be no different.
