I have been wanting to go see the Oklahoma City Memorial since we moved here, and we finally made it this afternoon.
wow...what a powerful place this is. It was a very emotional place, but also a very beautiful one.
The Memorial is a reminder of the tragedy of April 19, 1995. 168 lives were lost (19 of whom were children). We met a park ranger there who gave us some details about that day...I was crying listening to him. He told us stories of specific people in the building and what brought them there that day, included in the casualties was a 3 month old, his mother and grandparents that were there getting the baby a Social Security Card. The grandparents came to help the mother out with the new baby while she filled out paperwork and waited. Everything about that day was so tragic.
The view of the reflection pool looking down from the 9:01 gate
168 chairs in 9 rows commemorating the lives lost on each floor. A person's name is engaved on each chair, with larger chairs representing adults and the smaller ones children. The bottom portion of each chair lights up at night. The memorial is supposed to be even more emotional and beautiful at night.
The third tree from the left was where the truck was parked that morning.
Lauren taking it all in. Before we came, I told Lauren we were going to the place where "the building fell down". She asked why it fell and I told her some mean men did it. She was concerned they would be here today, but was reassured when I told her they went to "time out".
Dad and Susie
There are two main walls/entrances to the memorial. One says 9:01 which symbolizes the city's (and nation's) innocence.
9:03 the time we were changed forever. (9:02 am was the time of the bombing)
The fence where tokens of remembrance and hope are left.
Lauren sitting in front of the museum
Lauren drawing in chalk in the children's area in front of the museum
Colson observing from his stroller.
