MEDIA ADVISORY - 37th Anniversary Memorial Service

On December 21, 2025, the 37th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103, family members and friends of the victims gather at Arlington National Cemetery to remember and honor all those innocent lives that were lost on December 21, 1988. The ceremony will take place at The Pan Am 103 Memorial Cairn, a gift from the people of Scotland to the people of the United States that was dedicated in 1993.

The ceremony is organized by the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc., an organization founded in 1989 that is dedicated to the following goals:

·      discover the truth behind the bombing

·      seek justice for our loved ones

·      ensure the airline industry maintains and improves safety measures

·      educate the public about this incident

·      support one another  

The ceremony will begin at 1:30 pm. Speakers will be:

·      United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro

·      Lord Advocate, Scotland, Dorothy Bain KC

·      Judy O’Rourke, Secretary of Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc., December 21 Memorial Service Coordinator

·      Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, daughter of victim S. Frank Ciulla, Board Chair of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc.

Remarks will focus on the impact of the bombing, remembering those lost, and acknowledging the ties between the American and Scottish communities.

If you wish to cover the ceremony, please contact the Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs Office no later than 12 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19 at (703) 614-0024 or ancpublicaffairs@army.mil. Please note that interviews and stand ups are prohibited on ANC grounds.

The 37th anniversary comes as family members await the upcoming trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi (Mas’ud) who is in U.S. custody for his role in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The trial is scheduled to begin in Washington, D.C. in the second half of 2026.

“As we gather this December to remember the lives lost, we anticipate 2026 to be an impactful one. The upcoming trial is proof that our persistence and determination for justice continues and will never stop,” says Kara Weipz, Board President of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc.