Forest of Remembrance facts for kids
The Forest of Remembrance (known in Spanish as Bosque del Recuerdo) is a special memorial in Madrid, Spain. It was built to honor the 192 people who lost their lives in the terrible train bombings on March 11, 2004. The memorial also remembers the many others who were injured.
The name "Forest of Remembrance" was chosen by the families of those who died and the survivors. They wanted a name that showed their loved ones are always remembered and are still in their hearts.
The memorial has 192 olive trees and cypress trees, one for each person who died. A channel of water surrounds the trees, symbolizing life. The memorial is located on a small hill near the Atocha railway station, which was one of the places where the attacks happened.
Opening the Memorial
_08.jpg)
The Forest of Remembrance was officially opened on March 11, 2005. This was exactly one year after the sad events. King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia led the ceremony. They were the first to place white flowers at the memorial, with a message saying: "In memory of all the victims of terrorism."
The design of the park was created by El Invernadero, Belen Arroyo, and Ines Urquijo.
Many important people attended the opening. These included Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia (who are now the King and Queen of Spain). The President of the Government of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and other political leaders were also there.
Some world leaders came too, showing their support. These included Kofi Annan, who was the head of the United Nations at the time, and King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Leaders from countries like Afghanistan, Senegal, and Mauritania also attended. Ambassadors from the sixteen countries that lost citizens in the attacks were present as well.
The families of the victims asked that no speeches be given during the ceremony. Instead, a 17-year-old cellist played a beautiful song called "El Cant dels Ocells" (which means "The Song of the Birds" in Catalan). This song was composed by Pablo Casals.
See also
In Spanish: Bosque del Recuerdo para niños
