Nearing the anniversary of the Feb. 14 shootings, some may be wondering how to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

NIU students and local florists said while the memory of what happened one year ago is still vivid and the lives will not be forgotten, celebrating Valentine’s Day is important to share with a loved one.

Amber Johnson is a junior business administration major transfer student; this is her first semester at NIU. She said the anniversary of the shootings doesn’t hit as close to home for her, but she is thinking about what happened one year ago. She’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend.

Junior economics major Matt Christine is looking forward to spending time with his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day, though the shootings won’t be far from his mind.

“You remember the bad times, but you have to move forward,” Christine said. “Every year, it gets easier to move on.”

Oscar Hansen, owner of The Glidden Campus Florist, 917 W. Lincoln Highway, said he is selling out and will likely need to order more flowers before Saturday. He thinks most customers see honoring those killed and celebrating Valentine’s Day as separate concerns.

“They’re like two different issues,” he said. “People are very respectful about the shootings, but the person you’re in a relationship with, you still want to acknowledge them.”

His floral shop is getting lots of orders for Saturday’s memorial service from red and white floral arrangements to wreaths. Other colleges have also ordered arrangements, Hansen said.

Sally Mullis, manager of DeKalb Florist & Greenhouse, 2131 E. Lincoln Highway, said there haven’t been many people commenting about NIU because they are farther from campus. Business has been average so far; Mullis thinks most people will buy flowers today or Saturday, waiting “until the last minute.”

Joel Barczak and his wife own Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St., in Sycamore. Barczak said they have seen plenty of customers for Valentine’s Day this year, though he said he can tell they are thinking about the shootings.

“I know it’s on people’s minds, but it’s not necessarily on their lips,” Barczak, an NIU alumnus, said.

When debating the idea to hold a Valentine’s Day dinner at the banquet hall he and his wife own, Barczak said they wondered, “Is this something that’s disrespectful or negative?” to hold such an event on the anniversary of the shootings. Ultimately, Barczak said they decided that “sharing food with friends and enjoying life is how things are supposed to be.”

Though his floral shop isn’t on campus or in DeKalb, he said area residents are no less involved.

“Even though we’re in Sycamore, we’re all together. It affected the whole area,” he said. “Our community seems different and very strong.”