Moment of Silence at Capitol Square

RICHMOND (WAVY/AP) - Virginians were among the many Americans who observed a moment of silence Friday morning to mark the Connecticut school shooting one week ago.

Gov. Bob McDonnell asked for the statewide moment of silence, to be held at 9:30 a.m. The proclamation included a call for the bell at the Capitol Square Bell Tower to ring 26 times in honor of each of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Gov. McDonnell spoke with members of the public who gathered at Capitol Square, including 13-year-old Christopher Lee from Midlothian and Gabriel Smith, a 5th grade student at Jacobs Road Elementary School in Chesterfield.