SouthShoreNow.ca

Families visit final resting place

Lisa Brown
Lighthouse staff

 BAYSWATER - Flowers, teddy bears and candles told the story at the Bayswater memorial last week.

 Attached to a bouquet was a wedding photo, a young smiling bride and groom looking forward to a life together never realizing it would be cut short. One stuffed toy wore a head band that said simply "I love you." There were so many flowers, they were sometimes piled on top of each other.

 These were the touching tributes left behind by those who lost loved ones aboard Swissair Flight 111 when it plunged into the Atlantic last September. A year later, the names of 227 victims are etched in stone overlooking the ocean. Two others were omitted at their families' request.

 In the centre, the monument's message is heart-wrenching in its simplicity.

 "In memory of the 229 men, women and children aboard Swissair Flight 111 who perished off these shores September 2, 1998. They have been joined to the sea and the sky. May they rest in peace."

 To the left is a second message, a tribute to those who gave so much in so many ways to bring the grieving families peace of mind.

 "In grateful recognition of all those who worked tirelessly to provide assistance in the recovery operations and comfort to the families and their friends during a time of distress."

 By the evening of September 1, there were only a few area residents dropping by to visit the granite memorial. But earlier in the day about 700 family members made the pilgrimage up the winding path to the final resting place of so many.

 Twenty-four caskets were buried on Tuesday. Three more were interred during Wednesday's service. They contained the unidentified remains of the crash victims, along with some identified remains that families wanted buried in Nova Scotia.

 The 11 a.m. interment service and memorial dedication was private. The media was kept away and residents were asked to stay clear. It was a time for the families to grieve together but alone.

 An outline of the service was released to the media. The families prayed together and listened to a traditional Scottish song before the committal. It was followed by a minute of silence, after which Chief Medical Examiner Dr. John Butt, a man now synonymous with the Swissair identification process, laid a wreath on behalf of the province.

 The monument was dedicated by Rear-Admiral Dusty Miller, commander of the east coast Navy, and Lieutenant-Colonel David Hiscock of the Salvation Army. The 40-minute service ended with a lone piper lament played by an RCMP constable.

 Following the service, families made their way to the Bayswater provincial park where they were served refreshments.