    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [November 3, 1995]
    [Pages 1716-1718]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Dedication of the Pan American Flight 103 Memorial Cairn
    in Arlington, Virginia
    November 3, 1995

        Sir Hector, Jane Schultz, George Williams, Reverend Keegans,
    Reverend Miller, Reverend Neal, Rabbi Goldberg; to Members of Congress
    and the administration, the diplomatic corps; to our honored friends
    from Scotland; most of all, to the members of the family of Pan Am 103.
    Thank you, Sir Hector, for your good words. And thank you and the
    Lockerbie Trust for this beautiful cairn which I accept on behalf of the
    people of the United States.
        This simple monument speaks with a powerful voice. Each of its 270
    Lockerbie stones tells of the loss beyond measure, a child or a parent,
    a brother or a sister stolen away through an act of unspeakable
    barbarism. Almost 7 years have now passed since that bomb cut short the

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    lives of all 250 passengers of Pan Am 103 and the 11 villagers below. I
    know that I can speak for all the American people when I say that we
    have not forgotten and the families of the victims are still not alone
    in your sorrow.
        Since Pan Am 103, there have been other attacks of terrorism on our
    own soil, the bombing of the World Trade Center, the tragedy in Oklahoma
    City. After each, our Nation has drawn closer, and some of the families
    here of the victims at Lockerbie have helped in that process. I thank
    all of you who reached out to those who were grieving most recently in
    Oklahoma City.
        Despite the passage of time, nothing has dimmed our recollection of
    that day when death commanded the heavens. Nothing has diminished our
    outrage at that evil deed. Today the people of the United States
    understand terrorism better. We know it can strike anyone, anywhere. We
    know that each act of terrorism is a terrible assault on every person in
    the world who prizes freedom, on the values we share, on our Nation and
    every nation that respects human rights.
        Today, America is more determined than ever to stand against
    terrorism, to fight it, to bring terrorists to answer for their crimes.
    We continue to tighten those sanctions on states that sponsor terrorism,
    and we ask other nations to help us in that endeavor.
        We are strengthening our ability to act at home and around the
    world. Recently, we have been successful in apprehending terrorists
    abroad and in preventing planned terrorist attacks here in the United
    States. We are redoubling our efforts against those who target our
    liberties and our lives. And just a few days ago in the United Nations,
    I asked the nations of the world to join me in common cause against
    terrorism.
        In the case of Pan Am 103, we continue to press for the extradition
    of the two Libyan suspects. We want to maintain and tighten the
    enforcement of our sanctions, and we want to increase the pressure on
    Libya. This cairn reminds us that we must never, never relax our efforts
    until the criminals are brought to justice.
        I thank those who have spoken before for their reference to this
    hallowed ground. It is fitting that this memorial to the citizens of 21
    nations has been erected here in the sacred place of our Nation,
    surrounded by so many who fell fighting for our freedom. It is fitting,
    too, that this cairn was chosen as the embodiment of our common concern,
    not only because of the strong bonds that have grown up between the
    people of Scotland and America out of this tragedy but because this
    cairn was built stone by stone.
        From the time of the Bible, men and women have piled stones to mark
    a covenant between them as the patriarch Jacob did with Laban. So let us
    take this cairn as the sign of our bond with the victims of Pan Am 103
    to remember the life they brought into so many lives, to work to bring
    justice down on those who committed the murders, to keep our own people
    safe, and to rid the world of terrorism and never to forget until this
    job is done.
        We must all labor for the day, my fellow Americans and citizens of
    the world, when, in the words of the Psalm, ``we shall not be afraid for
    the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the
    pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that
    wasteth at noonday.''
        The days are now shortening, and December 21st approaches once
    again. I hope, to those of you who are members of the families, that the
    honor done your loved ones here today brings you some solace. And I pray
    that when this anniversary day comes again you will have a measure of
    peace. Your country men and women are with you in spirit and in
    determination.
        God bless you. God bless Scotland. And God bless the United States
    of America.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:37 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery.
    In his remarks, he referred to Sir Hector Monro, who presented the
    memorial cairn; Jane Schultz, chief organizer of the memorial; George H.
    Williams, president, Victims of Pan Am Flight 103; Rev. Patrick Keegans,
    Rev. John Miller, and Rev. Alan Neal, who gave the blessing; and Rabbi
    Jacob Goldberg, who gave the benediction.

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