On April 16th, 2007, the Virginia Tech community was shaken to the core when a gunman went on a murderous rampage, killing 32 and injuring countless others physically and emotionally. The heinous act in Southwest Virginia had a ripple effect, impacting lives across the world.

Community support was immeasurable, the students, faculty, parents and friends received countless reminders from coast to coast that the Hokies were not alone and on that day and the days following, America wore Maroon and Orange together.

A few weeks later, the New York Yankees joined in on the healing process when Derek Jeter presented a $1,000,000.00 check to Virginia Tech to go towards the Virginia Tech Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, on behalf of the Yankees organization. The check came with one string attached: Virginia Tech would welcome the Yankees to Blacksburg for an exhibition game in the spring.

On March 19th, 2008, the Yankees took to the field in Blacksburg, though the game was about more than baseball.

Nine years after taking the field against the Hokies, the Yankees continue their support for Virginia Tech. According to Norm Wood, of the Daily Press, the Yankees will commemorate the terrible day ten years ago on Sunday night with a moment of silence.

Yankees will have moment of silence before Sunday night's ESPN game against St. Louis to remember 4/16/07 shooting victims at Tech. #Hokies — Norm Wood (@normwood) April 14, 2017

Though the wound remains and the silence around the April 16 Memorial overlooking the Drillfield speaks louder than words, looking back on the past decade, Virginia Tech prevailed and touched the souls of many, including the Bronx Bombers.

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