Syracuse Trip

The Lockerbie Ceremonies

For all of you who may be wondering,

I had a GREAT time on my trip to Syracuse, New York to see my daughter receive a special award! I loved being with my daughter, who is a senior at Syracuse University, I loved being with my Aunt, who is 88 and getting younger every day, seeing my sister. and my brother, and spending time with cousins! I met up with my old pals who are the original world citizens and my heroes. Another special friend drove from Montreal to see me (a 4 hour drive if you don't count her "problem" at the Canadian border - the officer thoroughly searched her car and questioned her extensively regarding her intentions upon entering the country. She was just coming to visit me for the day!


Today I would like to share some details from K's event, which touched me more than anything has in a long time:

(For background information on the tragic plane crash and about the ceremony that is held to continue remembering those who were taken, please go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103 or http://remembrance.syr.edu/content/aboutus.asp)

The day was so emotional and so beautiful. It began when the 35 students who had been selected as Remembrance Scholars came walking down a long sidewalk towards the memorial wall. Carnations had been spread on the special monument and parents of these students and of those who died in crash over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, huddled together in the cold for this special ceremony.

The bell tower chimes set the mood when they began playing Amazing Grace. If this were not stirring enough, at the precise moment the students began their promenade down a long sidewalk towards us, two by two, it started to snow - it was sort of eerie, really, because it hadn't snowed before and didn't for the rest of the time I was there - it stopped when the ceremony began - only 2 minutes later. It was an experience that was other-worldly in intensity and very, very moving. A minister offered a prayer and a teacher gave a short speech.

Then a Scottish student played the bagpipes -oh, it was such a forlorn sound. It was so cold and everyone in attendance was obviously either holding back the tears or openly crying. Next each student went forward and said a few words about the student they were representing and what he or she was remembered for.

Finally, another young girl from Scotland who attends Syracuse on a special scholarship, spoke movingly of the impact on her community, where the accident happened.

To finish the ceremony, the young lad wearing traditional Scottish garb played the bagpipes once again. By that time we were all freezing, which actually seemed appropriate: how could we complain when these poor young people had lost their lives?

Afterwards there was a ceremony inside the chapel. A processional was played as our impeccably dressed sons and daughters walked in. It seemed almost like a wedding; the moment was formal, proper and suitably solemn. This second ceremony was to celebrate the Scholars, who had been selected after careful scrutiny by the organizers, and were found to have the qualities of academic dedication and service to community necessary to carry on this tradition.

The Chancellor spoke, as did the Dean of the School of Communications, and later a teacher from the Sciences Division gave a very thought-provoking talk on what these students are up against in today's society. Many thought that he should not have mentioned politics (this was the Friday before the elections), and that he had chosen the wrong forum to discuss his ideas on the war in Iraq, but I am sure that many of the students appreciated his candor and were left with food for thought.

Award recipients then went forward to receive a pin and congratulations from the Chancellor and other dignitaries. K. works at the Chancellor's office, and her supervisor, L. and another coworker went especially to see her receive this award. L. assured me that, as far as awards go at Syracuse, this is the one that is most highly coveted. Her comments made me feel like a very proud momma!

I am back to every-day life now, but will savor the memories of this special event for a long, long time to come.