Oz, Malaysia, Netherlands to mark anniversary of MH17 next month

Australia, Netherlands and Malaysia will hold memorial services next month to mark the first anniversary of the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine which claimed 298 lives, Australia’s Prime Minister said on Monday.

“A National Memorial Service in Canberra will take place on Friday July 17, 2015, the first anniversary of the downing of Flight MH17,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement. “The Service will honour those who lost their lives in this atrocity, and <g data-gr-id="19">thank to</g> those who were involved in the recovery and investigation process,” Abbott said.

“It will be a time to show support to those still grieving. All Australians mourned the loss of Flight MH17,” he said.

“There were 298 innocent people on this aircraft and their deaths outraged our sense of justice,” Abbott said. “One year on, we will remember all those who died especially the men, women, and children who called Australia home,” he said. He said that the Australian National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government establishments on July 17 as a mark of respect.

The government will also unveil a plaque in the House of Representatives’ gardens, Canberra, with the names of those whose died in <g data-gr-id="26">traged</g>.