1996 — The 1st Remembrance Week

1996-1997 Remembrance Scholars ensure Flight 103 victims aren’t forgotten

According to an article in the Syracuse Record, the 1996-1997 Remembrance Scholars decided to put together a symposium to remember the tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103.  The Scholars scheduled a meeting, formed a committee, and started making plans.  Alison Weintraub and Patrick Sammon were among the Remembrance Scholars taking the lead on this initiative.  “There has been some talk about planning an event or a day to raise awareness. Then we thought, ‘One day is really not enough. What more can we do?’” said Weintraub. “We wanted something that would last longer and be more meaningful to everyone. One thing just led to another and before we knew it we had plans for the Week of Remembrance.”

The events and activities for the first Remembrance Week at Syracuse University included:

Oct. 27, 1996
On the SU Quad
    Ribbon Tying – Remembrance Ribbons

Oct. 28, 1996
7:00 pm, Hendricks Chapel
    Video by A. Weintraub and P. Sammon
Followed by a panel discussion with Panelists Judy O’Rourke, SU; Georgia Nucci, mother of victim Christopher Jones; and Bob Hunt, father of victim Karen Hunt

Oct. 29, 1996
7:00 pm, Kilian Room, HL
    Prof. David Bennett, History Dept.
Discussion on domestic and international terrorism.

Oct. 30, 1996
7:30 pm, Studio B, NCC2
    Media Coverage of Airline Disasters
Panelists:  Prof. Joan Deppa, Newhouse; Jackie Robinson, ’78;WSTM-3 news anchor; and Sheryl Nathans, WTVH-5 reporter; and Tonya Twigg, senior at Montoursville HS (TWA Flight 800).

Oct. 31, 1996
12:45 pm, Place of Remembrance
    Remembrance Ceremony

Nov. 1, 1996
4:30 pm, Hendricks Chapel
    Remembrance Convocation

It should also be noted that the 1996-1997 Remembrance Scholars were the first to serve on the selection committee for future scholars.

[The above are excerpts and summary of an article in the Syracuse Record, October 28, 1996, page 5]

The 1st Remembrance Week consisted of a weeklong series of events honoring the lives of 35 Syracuse University students who lost their lives in the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist attack over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. Each year, 35 Remembrance Scholarships, each in the amount of $5,000, are awarded to undergraduate students because of distinguished academic achievement, citizenship, and service to community. The 1996-1997 Remembrance Scholars hosted all events.