Contemplating the trees standing tall before us in El Retiro Park evokes a poignant memory. Right here we find the Bosque del Recuerdo. It was once known as the Bosque de los Ausentes. This special area stands as a monument to remember a tragic event.
The Bosque del Recuerdo honors the 191 victims. They died in the Madrid bombings of March 11, 2004. The monument also honors the special forces agent who died. He died when seven of the bombing perpetrators killed themselves with bombs in Leganés on April 3, 2004.
The Bosque del Recuerdo lives in the Chopera. It is near Atocha station. There are 118 areas within it. These areas hold 192 trees. 22 are olive trees. 170 are cypress trees. One tree represents each person killed.
Originally the memorial was on an islet in Glorieta de Atocha. It was a place of remembrance on the route. This route was for Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz’s wedding procession.
After the wedding the city decided to rebuild the Bosque del Recuerdo. It would be more elaborate and in Retiro Park. King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía led the opening ceremony. It happened on March 11, 2005 the first anniversary of the bombings. The families of the victims requested no speeches. All attendees were silent for five minutes. Only the cello music of Blanca Coiñes playing Cant dels ocells could be heard.
The King and Queen put down a white wreath. It had chrysanthemums lilies laurel and ranunculus. A purple ribbon read To all victims of terrorism. Another ribbon showed the two colors of the Spanish flag.
On March 11th and 12th thousands of Madrid residents paid tribute. They also paid tribute at each of the bombing sites. Many national and international leaders attended the opening.
The attendees included the Prince and Princess of Asturias José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Kofi Annan and King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Also in attendance were Hamid Karzai Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Abdoulaye Wade. Other leaders included Marek Belka Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya and Girma Woldegiorgis.
Also present were Jorge Sampaio Vaira Vike-Freiberga Svetozar Marović and Stjepan Mesić. Leonel Fernández Enrique Javier Solana and Josep Borrell attended too. Jean-Claude Juncker Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kjell Magne Bondevik were there. Francisco Santos Calderón Shimon Peres Patrick Dewael and Daniel Lipšic also attended. Bosse Ringholm and Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov completed the list of dignitaries.
In November 2005 the National Congress of Public Parks and Gardens gave Madrid City Council the Alhambra Prize. It was for creating the Bosque del Recuerdo.
Other memorials also exist in Madrid. They stand at Atocha station El Pozo station and Santa Eugenia station. There is also a memorial at Alcalá de Henares train station. Other memorials are in Leganés Coslada Parla Pinto San Fernando de Henares Barcelona Vitoria and Haría.
The Bosque del Recuerdo stands as a reminder. It embodies a place of reflection. Its trees reach towards the sky. They symbolize hope and resilience. This is a place to remember those lost.