Jaclyn Pfaehler didn’t pay attention to the story of Pan Am Flight 103 or the 35 Syracuse University students killed in the attack before coming to SU.

Now, Pfaehler is a Remembrance Scholar, a living embodiment of one of the victims, Karen Lee Hunt. She is also the chairman of the rose-laying ceremony, a signature event during Remembrance Week.

‘It’s vital to keep the memory,’ Pfaehler said. ‘They (the deceased SU students) are all of us in a way.’

Hunt was a junior English and textual studies major. Pfaehler, a senior public relations major, said she was drawn to Hunt because of the parallels she saw between their lives.

‘She wanted to write poetry,’ Pfaehler said. ‘And I love to write. I chose her because of some of the obvious connections between us.’

Pfaehler could see her own close relationship with her mother mirrored in the bond between Hunt and her mother.

But Pfaehler didn’t contact Peggy Hunt as she discovered who Karen was. She didn’t want to burden her with the painful questions, but she’s hopeful the Hunts will be at Friday’s activities.

Pfaehler said she knows that this week is not about her.

‘Ultimately, it’s not about the Remembrance Scholars. It’s about the 35 students who died.’

Published on October 23, 2008 at 12:00 pm