SouthShoreNow.ca

Lisa Brown
Lighthouse staff

 BAYSWATER - The wording which will appear on memorials to Swissair Flight 111 was announced last week.

 Lorne Clarke, chairman of the Memorial Advisory Committee, said the words will be consistent with the character of the memorials themselves.

 "From the beginning," he said, "people wanted to have memorials that are modest and tasteful. The memorial wording keeps with this concept while remaining honest with historical fact."

 The wording will include Swissair Flight 111 and, while it does not make specific reference to an airplane crash, the connection is clear.

 A debate erupted earlier this month when an unofficial spokesman said the airline's name might not appear on the memorial, which could also leave off reference to how the people died. The error was quickly corrected and Mr. Clarke promised to release the final wording within weeks.

 The lines will be engraved in both English and French on both memorials.

 The names of 226 people will be recorded on the Bayswater memorial stones. Families have requested that three names not be included.

 As announced months ago, the memorials will also pay tribute to Nova Scotians who assisted recovery operations and families in the weeks following the September 2 disaster off Peggy's Cove and East Ironbound.

 "We want to honour the memories of the men, women and children who died, while recognizing those who helped in any way after the crash," Mr. Clarke said. "The words accomplish this and also reflect the nature of the tragedy and the relationship that those who died will forever have with our beautiful province."

 Meanwhile, recovery work at the crash site has been suspended until August 16. A remote-operated vehicle used to locate and pick up wreckage needs to undergo routine maintenance. The salvage team will also get a break.

 About 10 per cent of the passenger jet remains on the ocean floor. The exclusion zone continues around the crash site.

 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
 
 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