Conn. shooting local impact
Updated: December 15, 2012
All of them happened hundreds of miles away from here. But it can hit close to home for people in Central Illinois.
The Virginia Tech shooting impacted a family in champaign. Austin Cloyd went to school here.
She moved to Virginia Tech her senior year where she was killed. for one of her friends here in Champaign, today's events took him back.
"Somebody in this community will know somebody that was involved in the tragedy. By the end of the day their whole life will have changed,"
Salen said.
It's something Todd Salen knows all too well. His friend, Austin Cloyd was shot and killed at Virginia Tech in 2007.
"An hour, two hours, three hours later we find out someone we knew was sitting in that classroom," Salen said.
Suddenly what he saw on the news, was closer then he thought.
"Oh my goodness. I never would've thought that thousands miles away from me something like this would happen,"
Salen said.
"Austin was athletic, she was motivated,"
Salen said.
she's remembered for her passion for the community. Cloyd loved to volunteer.
"We need to remember Austin's spirit."
Salen said.
That's what friends and family did. They started Austin's day of service.
"You want to figure out a way to have that life have meaning so that 20 years from now we're still thinking about that child and thinking that their life on this earth made a difference,"
Salen said.
20 children dead, 6 adults.
Headlines like these takes Salen back to that day. He lost someone in a senseless tragedy.
"Even though they're in Champaign, IL or Los Angeles, CA. It's going to reach people thousands of miles away,"
Salen said.
BUT HE HOPES CLOYD'S STORY...
WILL PROVIDE SOME COMFORT.
"Take something special from them and not let that die when they passed away,"
Salen said.
Austin's next day of service is April 20th.
For more just head to http://www.austinsday.org/
