Welcome
This site is the official homepage of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc. This group is comprised of family members and friends of those whose lives ended when a terrorist bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. We are committed to seeking the truth about this tragedy and keeping the memory of our loved ones alive.
On Recent Events
We, the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc, are devastated and outraged following the recent release of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi from the Scottish prison in Glasgow. This man is the convicted mass murderer of our loved ones – 270 innocent victims in all. He showed no compassion to them or their families when he placed a bomb aboard Pan Am 103, killing all 259 on board the plane and 11 on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988. Since that time, he was tried and found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison in Scotland. His first appeal was denied; and he withdrew his second appeal. He has shown no remorse or regret or asked forgiveness. We deplore the fact that Scottish Minister Kenny MacAskill decided to release him on any grounds – compassionate or otherwise. He should have been required to serve out his sentence in Scotland – ill or not – as we were promised when he was tried and found guilty in January, 2001.
We are very grateful for all the support that we have received both in recent weeks and the last 20 1/2 years. The response from those we know and don’t know has been amazing. We have heard from people all over the world, and we have been deeply touched. It has helped make an unbearable situation a little more tolerable. Furthermore, we have been grateful for the warmth the Scottish people have shown us for over 20 years. Nothing can erase the care and love they’ve showed to us and our loved ones. We are grateful to the Crown Office for their unending dedication to the prosecution of this case. While we in no way condone the decision or the actions of Mr. MacAskill, one man should in no way represent a whole people. We are actively pursuing the truth to allegations of secret deals between the British Government, the Royal Family, and Libya. We can never forget that those who sponsored and carried out this act of terrorism reside in Libya.
Pan Am Flight 103 Revisited
Now that the decision has been made to transfer the case of the self-proclaimed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to a civilian trial in Manhattan instead of a Military Commission, the families of the thousands who perished on 9/11 will face a year or more to relive the horror of that day. Imagine a scenario where Mohammed, who has already confessed and bragged about his actions, is released from prison and allowed to go home to a hero’s welcome; then, try to imagine the pain that those families would endure.
Remarks of John O. Brennan, December 21, 2009
Thank you, Frank, for your introduction and for your stewardship of this incredible organization — this family of families — dedicated to the memory of those who were loved so much.
To Mary Kay Stratis and all the spouses and families and friends, I am deeply humbled to join you on a day that I know is still difficult for so many of you. For others, 21 years might seem like a lifetime. To you, I know it seems like just yesterday.
And so for you and your families, this is an intensely personal moment. At the same time, it is a day for our nation — to remember, to reflect and to reaffirm our commitment to spare others the pain and loss you have known.
Syracuse Remembrance Week and VPAF103 Annual Membership Meeting
This year’s events will include a series of panel discussions about the ways in which current issues of terrorism are still relevant to the Pan Am tragedy, a memorial performance on Thursday, November 12th to honor the individuals lost in the disaster, and the annual Rose Laying Ceremony on Friday, November 13th at 2:03 pm at the Wall of Remembrance in front of the Hall of Languages, followed by the Remembrance Convocation at 3:30 pm in Hendricks Chapel. On Saturday, November 14th, we will hold our Annual Membership Meeting at Byrd Library. The meeting will begin at 10am.
