December 21, 1988, is a day that took 270 lives from 21 countries. This December marks 35 years since the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland.
The flight had taken off from London Heathrow Airport and was headed to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Thirty-eight minutes after takeoff, a bomb exploded in the cargo area. Of the 270 people killed, 190 were Americans. Thirty-five were Syracuse University students.
This year, a new exhibit in Syracuse University's Bird Library titled "In Pursuit of Justice" explores the terrorist attack with items like a camera owned by one of the students, the exact model of boombox the explosive was placed in and a timeline of events. Materials displayed are drawn from the university’s archives.
What You Need To Know
- This December will mark 35 years since 35 Syracuse University students were killed in a terror attack executed against Pan Am Flight 103
- A new exhibit in Bird Library about the bombing is called 'In Pursuit of Justice'
- It features items like a camera owned by one of the students, the exact model of boombox the explosive was placed in and a timeline of events
- Visitors don’t have to be a student to view the display
The Special Collections Gallery changes a couple times a year. As the tragedy reaches its 35th anniversary, some people in the community weren’t alive or don’t remember the attack. So the timeline and artifacts are meant to help educate, as well as remember.
“We’re covering things like the personal effects return process, the experience of the Lockerbie Scotland community and then, of course, the organizational work of the victims’ families," said Vanessa St. Oegger-Menn, Pan Am 103 archivist at Syracuse University.
"In Pursuit of Justice" is a title fitting for the moment, as a man awaits federal trial for his involvement in building the bomb used in the attack.
“While terrorism has become more present in our daily lives, something that we are more familiar with, we hear about more often, many of these conversations surrounding that very complex topic have been happening for decades now," said St. Oegger-Menn.
"In Pursuit of Justice" is open to the public. Visitors don’t have to attend SU to view what’s on display, and the library is accepting requests for private tours.
The items will be displayed through January. The Special Collections Research Center, where the exhibit is on display, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Bird Library.