Look Back, Act Forward
Each year in the fall, Syracuse University observes Remembrance Week. Events are designed by the Remembrance Scholars whose goal is to raise campus and community awareness of terrorism and to encourage the entire Syracuse University community to honor the 35 Syracuse University study abroad students and all the victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing by becoming involved and working to positively impact others.
As our campus and community looks back on a senseless tragedy, we find comfort and meaning in remembering the lives and passions of those who lost their lives on December 21, 1988 and especially in acting – on their behalf – to make the communities we live in better.
For information about past Remembrance Week events, please contact the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives.
Remembrance at Syracuse University During COVID-19
In previous years, the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars at Syracuse University have remembered those lost on Pan Am Flight 103 with events and activities held during a single week each fall semester. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the need to limit in-person gatherings, Remembrance will be different in academic year 2020-21.
The annual Rose-Laying ceremony and Remembrance Convocation have been postponed. It is the Scholars’ hope and intention to hold these two events during the Spring 2021 semester, as health and safety circumstances allow.
The Scholars began meeting remotely in late August to plan virtual events and programs that will occur throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. Additionally, the Scholars will collaborate with Syracuse University’s Hendricks Chapel and the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. family group for virtual annual memorial services on December 21.
Information about events and programs will continue to be posted here as details become available.
Week of October 5
Chairs and Flags Displays – Place of Remembrance – Chairs will be set up in the formation of Pan Am 103. The chairs will be on display all week. Flags representing each of the 270 victims of Pan Am Flight 103 will be installed on the lawn area between the Schine Student Center and Newhouse complex.
Tuesday, October 27, 5-6 p.m. EDT/2-3 p.m. PDT
The Day After: Investigation Practices panel – Join the 2020-21 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars for a virtual discussion with retired FBI agents Richard A. Marquise and Kathryn Turman. Our expert panel will discuss the investigation of the December 21, 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland and the support provided to the victims’ families. This event is open to Syracuse University students, faculty, and staff only and requires advance registration. Register here.
Thursday, October 29, 8-8:45 p.m. EDT/5-5:45 p.m. PDT
Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars Gathering – Join Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholar alumni and current Scholars as we come together to reflect on our mission to Look Back, Act Forward in memory of those lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Remembrance alumni will share stories of how the scholarship made a difference in their lives and careers. This event is part of Orange Central and requires advance registration. Explore the Orange Central events calendar and register here.
Friday, November 13, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET/8 a.m.-9a.m. PT
The Day After: Community Rebuilding panel – In the uncertain aftermath of a terrorist attack, how do we begin to reconcile with tragedy? Join the 2020-21 Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars for a virtual discussion with Jørgen Frydness and Yutaka Sho as they share their experiences with community rebuilding after violence. Frydness, General Manager of Utøya, will discuss the community return to Utøya following the 22 Juli attack. Sho, Associate Professor in the School of Architecture, will focus on the architectural aspects of rebuilding after tragedy. Register here.
Monday, December 21
Annual Memorial Service – Monday, Dec. 21, 2:03 p.m. EST – The Dean and Chaplains of Hendricks Chapel hosted an online memorial service on Monday, Dec. 21 at 2:03 p.m. EST. The service honored the 270 people, including 35 Syracuse University students, who were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland on that date and time 32 years ago. Chaplains, Remembrance Scholars, and Lockerbie Scholars offered prayers, reflections, and a reading of the names of the 35 students who were lost that day.
Celebration of Life – Monday, Dec. 21, 3:30 p.m. EST – The annual Celebration of Life performance variety show filled with music and poetry to honor the lives lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 will take place virtually on Dec. 21, 2020. This program is hosted and coordinated by the 2020-2021 Remembrance Lockerbie Scholars. It features performances from Syracuse University and Lockerbie Academy students, friends of the victims, and members of the Lockerbie, Scotland community. The Celebration of Life can be also be viewed on the Remembrance Scholars’ Facebook page and Instagram account.
November 2020-January 2021
The Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars are currently accepting submissions for a poster competition inspired by the mission of the Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholars to “Look Back, Act Forward” in honor of the victims of Pan Am Flight 103 is currently underway. The theme of the competition is “Reflecting on 2020, Looking Toward 2021.” The deadline to submit a design is Sunday, January 31, 2021. Prizes will be awarded for Grand Prize, Runner Up, and Remembrance and Lockerbie Scholar Choice at the conclusion of the competition. Members of the campus community and the public are welcome to submit their designs. Additional information and the submission form are available at RemPoster.com.