AP News, April 25th, 2007
A funeral procession Wednesday led the body of a 20-year-old Virginia Tech shooting victim and American history buff past views of the Washington monuments she loved on the way to her burial, fittingly, at Arlington National Cemetery.
A large wreath in the shape of the Virginia Tech logo was placed at Leslie Sherman's grave. Sherman, a history and international studies double major, died when a student gunman killed 32 people and himself April 16.
"In many ways, she accomplished more in her 20 years than most of us do in a lifetime," said the Rev. Dr. Robert Laha Jr., who led a simple service at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in historic Old Town Alexandria. About 500 people mourned the Springfield resident in the sun-filled church.
Sherman was able to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery because her mother is a veteran and her father is in the reserves, said Kara McCarthy, a spokeswoman for the cemetery.
Even in high school she was interested in history. She interned at Frying Pan Farm Park, teaching visitors about its social history as part of a history class.
Brian Lees, who also lived in Springfield before moving to Texas for college, was in the class with Sherman and remembered the fun they had while interning at the farm, recalling how he and Sherman nicknamed a cow after one of their professors.
"She was just a joy to be around, always happy," Lees said outside the church. He wanted people to remember his friend "for her spirit, her joyful nature."
After the funeral, Sherman's classmates remembered her love of Washington's monuments. The hearse carrying Sherman's body drove past views of the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and the Washington Monument can be seen from her gravesite.
Also Wednesday, 20-year-old Lauren McCain was remembered in a funeral service in Shawnee, Okla., as a devout Christian dedicated to spreading her faith.
About 250 relatives and friends turned out at the Aydelotte Baptist Church for the funeral. Her body lay in a casket surrounded by flowers, photos of the young woman and the seal of Virginia Tech.
McCain was born in Midwest City and spent several years of her childhood in McLoud before her father's Navy career took the family out of state. Her parents wanted her buried in Oklahoma because several family members live in the area.
Jill Anderson, who taught Sunday school at the church, said she remembered McCain as cheerful and smiling.
"She joined right in the class with participation," Anderson said. "We're just really sad to lose her. To be so young and to have such a love for the Lord and not be ashamed of it."
Navy Chaplain G.W. Felder recalled baptizing McCain in the ocean when her father was stationed in Florida. Felder does not know how to swim and recalled being nervous in the water.
"She gave me some words of encouragement and said it would be all right," he said.
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Associated Press writer Sean Murphy in Shawnee contributed to this report.
