FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 94 - ENGLISH

39 On 9 March, we attended the com- memoration of the European Day for the Victims of Terrorism and the 22nd anniversary of 11M organised by the Ministry of the Interior in the auditorium of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza. On 10March, we attended to lay a lau- rel wreath, alongside the Regional Min- ister and Deputy Regional Minister for Justice of the Community of Madrid, at the Space for Reflection and Tribute in- side Atocha station. A few hours later, we attended the Memorial Ceremony to commemorate and pay tribute to the Victims of 11M on its 22nd anniversary, at the headquarters of the Government Delegation. In the afternoon, we also at- tended the 22nd Rodolfo Benito Founda- tion Awards Ceremony. And, finally, we took part in the floral tribute at the 11M Monument in Getafe. On 11 March, we began the day with a solemn ceremony in memory of the terrorist attacks of 11 March 2004, at- tended by the President of the Com- munity and the Mayor of Madrid. Then, as we do every year, we visited the four sites of the attacks: Atocha, with CCOO and UGT; Calle Téllez; Santa Eu- genia, with the Villa de Vallecas Council; and El Pozo, with the residents’ associ- ations and the Confederation of Asso- ciations of Puente de Vallecas. At each of these locations, following a minute’s silence and the customary speech by our president, we laid wreaths. Thanks to the support of many mem- bers, we also attended events in Alcalá de Henares, Alcorcón, Fuenlabrada, Leganés, Móstoles, Parla and the Ro- manian Embassy. Our vice-president, Bianca Luca, also represented us on the 11th at the Euro- pean Day for the Victims of Terrorism held in Brussels. Finally, on Thursday 12th, we con- cluded the commemorative events in Getafe with a concert by VokalArs at the García Lorca Theatre. SPEECH ON THE 22ND ANNIVERSARY OF 11 MARCH Good morning, everyone. Thank you to the institutions hosting us today, to those who have made this event possible, and to all of you who have chosen to be here, joining us once again on a day that belongs not only to the calendar but also to the collective consciousness of our country. A very special greeting to the victims, their families, those who survived, and those who cared for them. And also to those who, with- out having been there, have decided not to look the other way over these twenty-two years. Because remem- bering is not an automatic gesture. Remembering is an ethical decision. And today we are here because we con- tinue to choose to remember. Twenty-two years have passed. A figure that may seem distant to an outsider. But not to us. Time does not erase the absences. It does not soften the silences. It does not rebuild the lives that were shattered that morning. We lost loved ones, so many that we cannot list all their names here. Though we always car- ry them on our lips. And in our hearts. There were 68 at El Pozo station. 64 near Calle de Téllez. 34 at Atocha station. 16 at Santa Eugenia station. And the rest, up to 191, in the hospitals. Then there was the GEO officer who died in Le- ganés. And ten years later, Laura passed away, without ever waking from her coma. Hence the terrible total of 193. But our dead are still with us. They are in the empty chairs. At birthday par- ties. At Christmas. At weddings or cel- ASSOCIATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS