FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 94 - ENGLISH

11 NEWS the importance of such tributes involving the active participation of all levels of gov- ernment, in recognition of the suffering endured by so many families. AN AFTERNOON OF REMEMBRANCE AT SANTA EUGENIA AND EL POZO The day continued in the afternoon at two stations deeply scarred by the 11M attacks: Santa Eugenia and El Pozo. At 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm respectively, local residents, victims, representatives of organisations and officials from the 11MAssociation took part in separate floral tributes. The ceremonies took place in front of the memorials erected at both stations, places where citizens have maintained their own ritual of remembrance for years. The flow- ers, the messages and the silence of those who gathered once again expressed the en- during power of remembrance and solidar- ity with those who lost somuch on that day. A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF STATE The day included a message from Their Majesties King Felipe and Queen Letizia, who wished to pay public tribute to the vic- tims of terrorism. In their statement, they affirmed that “their memory remains alive and their dignity unites us as a society in the defence of freedom, justice and coexist- ence”, whilst also expressing their “respect, affection and support” for all the families affected on this significant date. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also paid tribute to the 193 victims who “were taken from us 22 years ago in the worst terror- ist attack in the history of Spain; there is no better way to remember them than by fighting hatred”. For his part, the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, emphasised that 11 March is dedicated to the victims of terror- ism and that, consequently, “the only thing we can do is stand by them”. In the same vein, he called for “remembrance, dignity and justice”, according to Europa Press. A MEMORY THAT IS RENEWED EVERY YEAR Twenty-two years on, the events of 11 March retain their original purpose: to honour the victims, support the survivors and reaffirm the democratic commitment against all forms of terrorist violence. The sites of the attacks have changed, the city has evolved, but the memory remains pres- ent in Madrid’s civic life. The event once again demonstrated that collective memory—whether shared by the public, institutions or individual citizens— remains an indispensable tool for fostering coexistence, upholding historical truth and ensuring that what happened on 11 March 2004 is never reduced to a mere date or a statistic, but remains a living commitment to the dignity of the victims.