The 36th annual week of commemoration for Pan-Am Flight 103 is coming to a close on the SU campus

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — As the 36th annual Week of Remembrance draws to a close, the Syracuse University community gathered around the Memorial Site to honor the lives lost in the bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103.

“This has been a truly moving experience for me,” said Adya Parida, a current Remembrance Scholar. “I’m an international student, so coming here and learning about the incident and its impact is an honor in itself.”

As the 35 SU Seniors and both Lockerbie Scholars walked from the Hall of Languages ​​entrance to the Promenade, dozens of people who came to watch stood in silence before being interrupted by the start of the ceremony.

“As we lay these roses and stones, let them symbolize not only our shared grief, but also our commitment to celebrating the enduring spirit of those we have lost.” said Remembrance Scholar Alyssa Sutherland.

While the week’s tribute events aligned with previous years’ calendars, Remembrance 2024 came with some surprise announcements. The Lockerbie Scholar program is expected to shift to sponsoring two full year students, to 10-12 Lockerbie Academy students for approximately two weeks.

“I know there are people in our cohort who feel very strongly about the proposed changes,” says Parida. “While I personally do not wish to comment, I know that fellow scientists have been involved in discussions with the university about the future of the program.”

As more details emerge about the tragedy on the night of December 21, 1988, the FBI has reopened the case of the Flight 103 bombing. The initial three-year investigation found two Libyan nationals, one of whom was jailed for life until he was released with a diagnosis of cancer, having since died.