Sometimes all we do is listen. We listen to the families speak of their loved ones, listen to the little ones cry, the child who loves snowflakes because that is what her father called her. The wife and children with no means of support and feeding themselves with empty spoons. Knowing that no matter what we do, we cannot bring them back, nor fill that empty place. Still we do what we can on behalf of the families.
This will be the first July 28 in history when these 152 people will not be living on this earth. We want to remember these people who lost their lives in such a tragic and unnecessary way. They deserve to be remembered.
Some remember those who are no longer with us by using symbols. Memorials like the one promised. There are other symbols, like the bird in flight that symbolizes a soul, or a chain with a broken link.
There is a tradition dating back to ancient times of placing rosemary by the graves of loved ones. “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember;” Hamlet, (V.iv.124)
I was going to talk about more ways that people remember, but I must pause here. In ancient times they put rosemary by the graves of loved ones. Some people still do. But we cannot lay sprigs of rosemary for remembrance at the feet of our loved ones, because there are families still waiting for a memorial promised before the first anniversary of the crash. Waiting a year to lay their flowers and their grief.
Instead of a bouquet of flowers, we have a bouquet of broken promises. Shall we count them?
A broken promise to share the final investigative report.
A broken promise over the Monument at the crash site (they want it elsewhere); and a broken promise over the 72 unmarked graves.
A broken promise over Airblue being grounded for negligence, malpractice, manslaughter.
A broken promise to assist the families.
Or maybe we can call this a pending promise, as we wait for an independent inquiry board and a pending promise of greater safety in the skies over Pakistan.
We have our Rosemary for remembrance, but it is bittersweet.
CDA is constructing a memorial for the Air Blue Flight 202 just a few miles from Damn-e-Koh, Islamabad
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What: Germanwings Airbus A319-100 en route from Pula Croatia to Berlin Where: Schoenefeld Airport When: Jul 16th 2009 Why: The airbus landed at Schoenefeld with gear issues and had to be towed off the runway.
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Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net Contact photographer Steve Brimley What: South African Airways Airbus A319-100 from Johannesburg en route to Port Elizabeth Where: OR Tambo International airport. When: Monday March 23 Why: The plane returned to the airport of origin to make an emergency landing due to an oil leak which was said to be non-threatening. Prior to this event, a gauge indicated a pressure problem. The crew shut down one engine when it lost oil pressure.
Passengers took another plane an hour and a half later.
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What: Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800 en route from London Heathrow to Singapore Where: London When: Aug 8th 2009 Who: 363 passengers Why: After takeoff, control panel indicated a problem on the plane that led to returning to the airport of origin. After landing, Singapore Airline maintenance determined that the flaw was in the signal. The plane was cleared for take-off and completed the flight.
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