Wednesday marks a solemn anniversary at the University of Texas.

It is the 41th anniversary of the day Charles Whitman went to the top of the UT Tower and opened fire.

Until the Virginia Tech shootings earlier this year, it was the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Several former police officers and family members of those who died in the rampage gathered on the UT campus Wednesday to remember the rampage and the courage shown by so many.

"Some people can say it's 41 years, better late than never. But it takes time for wounds to heal, and I think a lot of people just wanted to forget about it," said Milton Shoquist, former APD officer. "It's history, but it's something everybody wishes had never happened, but it did happen, and we have to live with it."

The group placed flowers at a small memorial for each of those wounded or killed in the massacre. This marked the first time the group met publicly.

Next week the Austin City Council will honor several of those involved in ending the shooting spree.