Remembrance Week at Syracuse University honors 270 Pan Am 103 victims
From Oct. 18 to 23, Remembrance Week at Syracuse University brought together students, families, and educators across Central New York to honor the 270 victims of the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 tragedy, including 35 SU students. The week featured ceremonies, educational events, and student-led projects focused on remembrance and action.
Two hundred seventy lives lost in the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing were honored last week as Syracuse University hosted its annual Remembrance Week, drawing students and families from Syracuse, DeWitt, and across Central New York. The event, held from October 18 to 23, included a series of ceremonies and educational activities led by the 2026-27 Remembrance Scholars and Lockerbie Fellows, according to Syracuse University News.
This story came from public records we pulled ourselves
Get the next one, plus overnight incidents, in your inbox at 6 AM. Free, no spam.
Remembrance Week is a longstanding tradition at Syracuse University, commemorating the 270 people killed in the December 21, 1988, terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. Among the victims were 35 students studying through the university’s Division of International Programs Abroad, now known as Syracuse Abroad, and 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground.
By The Numbers
- 270: Number of victims honored during Remembrance Week, per Syracuse University News
- 35: Syracuse University students killed in the Pan Am 103 tragedy, according to Syracuse University News
- 10: Lockerbie Fellows from Lockerbie Academy participating in this year’s events, per Syracuse University News
Remembrance Week events bring learning and reflection to CNY families
Remembrance Week began on Sunday, October 18, with a candlelight vigil on the steps of Hendricks Chapel. The event featured reflections, poetry, and a performance by Groovestand, according to Syracuse University News. Throughout the week, the JMA Wireless Dome, Hendricks Chapel, and the Hall of Languages were lit in blue to mark the occasion.
On Monday, the 10 Lockerbie Fellows from Lockerbie Academy in Scotland toured the Pan Am 103/Lockerbie Air Disaster Archives in Bird Library. Vanessa St. Oegger-Menn, assistant university archivist and Pan Am 103 archivist, guided the group through the collection, which documents the tragedy and its impact on the Syracuse community.
The Fellows and their teachers were formally welcomed to campus Monday evening by Remembrance Scholars, Chancellor J. Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor Lois Agnew, Associate Provost Elisa Dekaney, and Otto the Orange. This welcome set the tone for a week of shared learning and remembrance.
On Wednesday, Remembrance Scholars and Lockerbie Fellows sat in solidarity on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quad for 35 minutes, symbolizing the 35 SU students lost. This act of remembrance was a visible sign of unity and reflection for students from the university and local high schools, including those in the Syracuse City School District (SCSD).
Thursday featured the Act Forward Symposium, where Remembrance Scholars Mason Burley and Jiya Gumaste presented their Act Forward project. These projects, which will continue into the spring semester, encourage students to take lessons from the past and apply them to positive action in their communities.
The Lockerbie Fellows also shared their reflections during a Thursday evening presentation, fostering international connections between Syracuse and Lockerbie students. For families in DeWitt, Salina, and other nearby towns, these events offered a chance to engage with history and global citizenship through the lens of local education.
Rose-Laying Ceremony and Convocation close the week
The week’s events culminated on Friday with the Rose-Laying Ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance. Remembrance Scholar Sigourney Bell served as the ceremony speaker, and Scholar Alexis Heveron offered a reflection on Christopher Andrew Jones, the Pan Am 103 student victim she represented. Scholar Darren Murphy laid a rose in memory of Thomas Britton Schultz, while flowers were placed on the wall for all 270 victims.
Following the ceremony, Remembrance Scholar Teaghan Brostrom spoke on behalf of all 35 Remembrance Scholars at the Remembrance Scholar Convocation. Chancellor J. Michael Haynie congratulated Remembrance Scholar Chelsea (Chuyue) Zhang during the event, recognizing the scholars’ commitment to honoring the past and shaping the future.
What Remembrance Week means for CNY students and families
For families in Syracuse and surrounding towns like DeWitt and Salina, Remembrance Week is more than a university tradition. It is an opportunity for students to learn about global events, the importance of remembrance, and the value of community action. The involvement of local high school students and the ongoing Act Forward projects ensure that the lessons of Pan Am 103 continue to shape the next generation of Central New Yorkers.
The presence of the Lockerbie Fellows and their engagement with Syracuse students highlight the international connections fostered by the program. As the Act Forward projects continue into the spring, families can expect more opportunities for students to participate in service and educational initiatives inspired by Remembrance Week.
For more stories about local education, visit our Syracuse schools page. To find upcoming events and ways to get involved, check our community events listings.
Remembrance Week in the context of CNY education
Remembrance Week is a fixture on the Syracuse University calendar, but its impact reaches into the broader Central New York education community. The annual participation of Lockerbie Fellows and the focus on student-led projects align with trends in experiential learning and global citizenship promoted in local schools, including the Syracuse City School District.
As the I-81 viaduct project continues to reshape downtown Syracuse, and as families gather for SU football Saturdays and fall events, Remembrance Week reminds us of the city’s connections to world events and the power of education to foster understanding and resilience.
For updates on SU athletics and other campus happenings, see our Syracuse sports coverage.
Where to check for updates
For more information about Remembrance Week and upcoming Act Forward projects, visit the Syracuse University News website. Families can also check with local school district calendars for related educational programming.
📷 Wikimedia / Wikipedia , Syracuse University , CC BY-SA 4.0 / Public Domain (verify per file)
Sources
- Syracuse University News, Remembrance Week 2026 in Photos
