Editorial : Yearly Rose Laying Ceremony ran unusually short
The Rose Laying Ceremony marks the pinnacle of Remembrance Week, a week set aside to honor the students who died in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
The ceremony’s visual effect brings together the solemn tribute to the student victims and the hope today’s students embody as they pay their respects. Of all the Remembrance Week events, it is the one students hear about most from their peers.
At the ceremony, each of the 35 Remembrance Scholars lays down a rose and says a few words in honor of one of the 35 victims. The two Lockerbie Scholars, students from Scotland who are studying at Syracuse University on a yearlong scholarship, had offered short and powerful speeches in the past.
Friday’s Rose Laying Ceremony was shorter than in past years, running about 20 minutes compared to about 40 minutes or longer in the past. Of course, this year two major factors likely played a role in the condensed version: Homecoming Weekend and the volatile weather. But as the time moves on and pushes the Pan Am tragedy further into SU’s collective memory, it’s important not to abridge the tribute because the student scholars and staff put a lot of heart and work into the ceremonies.
The significance and integrity of the Rose Laying Ceremony must remain intact because it offers a symbolic and powerful culmination of the week.
