Remembrance Week will honor victims of bombing

This week, the Syracuse University community will participate in Remembrance Week. Many students have probably noticed the renovations on the Remembrance Wall in front of Hall of Languages have been completed.

But, what exactly is Remembrance Week?

On Dec. 21, 1988, 35 SU students returning home from study abroad programs were killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The plane held 270 passengers. The university started Remembrance Week to honor those students that died. 

In addition to creating Remembrance Week, the university also established a scholarship to recognize the 35 students lost in the terrorist attack. Remembrance Scholars are seniors who receive a $5,000 scholarship during their last year at school. Two students that study at SU from Lockerbie, Scotland are selected as Lockerbie Scholars.

Scholars reigned in this year’s Remembrance Week on Oct. 21 by painting the windows in Boland-Brewster-Brockway, Ernie Davis and Shaw Dining Halls. Afterward, they chalked the Quad and built memorial chairs. The chairs are inscribed with good deeds that have been done by students and are meant to represent the 35 students killed on Pan Am Flight 103 while also showing that past misfortunes can inspire positive actions.

On Monday night at 8:30 p.m., a candlelight vigil will be held on the Quad to honor and remember everyone who died on Pan Am Flight 103. Scholars will participate in a variety of events this week including a meeting with the Keli Perrin, director of The Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism, and making sandwiches for The Samaritan Center.

Students will be able to view the SU Abroad Photo Contest Exhibition in the Panasci Lounge, in the Schine Student Center. If students cannot make it to any of the events that are being held on the Quad, they can still participate in honoring the fallen students by viewing short YouTube videos about Remembrance Week made by the scholars.

Remembrance Week will be winding down on Friday with a Rose Laying Ceremony at 2:03 p.m. at the newly-renovated Wall of Remembrance. A Remembrance Convocation will be then held at Hendricks Chapel at 3 p.m. followed by a reception in the Heroy Lobby.

Photo via remembrance.syr.edu