STUDENTS and staff at Syracuse University are preparing for their annual Remembrance Week for the Lockerbie victims.
It kicks off today, Sunday, with a candlelight vigil to be led by the 2023 Syracuse scholars, Tristan Woolley and Joshua Halliday.
The pair from Annandale will be taking part in all the events through the week, which runs up to October 21.
Every year the university remembers the 270 victims of the 1988 disaster, including their 35 students who died.
The aim of Remembrance Week is to memorialise the victims and also further educate the campus community about terrorism.
This year there will be an exhibition titled “In Pursuit of Justice: Pan Am 103” Exhibition, curated by Pan Am 103 archivist Vanessa St. Oegger-Menn. It features materials donated to the Pan Am 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives at the Special Collections Research Center by the victims’ loved ones and members of the investigative teams. The exhibition provides an overview of the disaster, investigation and first trial at Kamp van Zeist in the Netherlands.
The Empty Seats Display is a visual representation of the Syracuse University students lost aboard Pan Am Flight 103. It is meant to serve as a reminder of how a loss in the past can inspire positive actions in the present. Tristan and Josh will sit in solidarity in the chairs on Wednesday morning.
Blue and white flags, one for each of the victims, will be on display and campus buildings will be lit in blue in honour.
There will also be a screening of the “Seat 20D,” documentary, which tells the story of “Dark Elegy,” the memorial created by Suse Lowenstein, whose son, Alexander, was killed; as well a ‘celebration of life’ evening with music, poetry, art and dancing.
At the end of the week there will be a rose laying ceremony to remember those on board and to also honour the 2002 Lockerbie scholar Andrew McClune who died during his year abroad.
