Oklahoma City Memorial of the April 19, 1995 bombing
I went to see the Oklahoma City Memorial yesterday for the bombing on April 19, 1995. It was such an intense afternoon. I was in fifth grade when the bombing happened. My class had been learning about current events and as part of the segment we watched 10-30 minutes of CNN every morning. We were watching as the first coverage was aired...my teacher (as was the entire class) was so stunned he didn't change the station to protect us or anything. I remember how scary it was...we tuned in throughout the day to watch the story unfold. That year was intense overall as we saw the OJ Simpson trial unfold as well as the Jonbenet Ramsey story...man...crazy.
Last summer I went to see Ground Zero in NYC and that was equally emotional. In that case I remember seeing the World Trade Center when I was 9 or 10, so seeing the gaping hole that now exists where they used to stand was shocking. In the case of the OKC, I had never seen the Federal Building before...so trying to imagine what the area looked like before April 19, 1995 was difficult.
In any case, I believe that it is important to see these memorials if you are ever near them. They are heartbreaking and make you remember these times and these people who lost their lives. Sometimes I think we forget that "It can happen here".
Anyway...onto the pics.
The fence outside...
Looking into the memorial from the Gates of Time
The Gates of Time and the calming reflecting pool. One Gate reads 9:01 and the one on the other end reads 9:03. The bombing occurred at 9:02 a.m. 9:01 represents a time when the day was normal and people were going about their day. 9:03 is for when American's lives were changed forever. The reflecting pool runs where 5th street used to run alongside the Federal building.
Looking back on 5th street...you can see how they interrupted the street
The field of empty chairs is a very moving experience..
The small chairs are for the 19 children...:(
For some reason throughout the memorial I was drawn to Blake...and his was teh first chair I found.
Baylee is the baby in the photo that appeared on front covers everywhere...covered in blood and in a firefighters arms
The Survivor Tree...the first pic of this tree they can find is from the 1920's in a family's backyard. It has survived the growth of the city and was charred and broken when the bombing happened. It managed to survive and has become a symbol of survival and healing. They gave NYC a sampling from the tree after 9/11.
They put black bricks in the blown out windows to keep the feel of what this wall looked like after the blast. They chose not to renovate it.
Outpouring of love and support and prayers came from children worldwide. Some are represented here and children visiting can now leave messages on the chalkboards.
View across the reflecting pool on the Survivor Tree and Rescuers Orchard (I think that's what it was called).
They left this wall of the Federal Building standing
Views from where the entrance used to be.
Where the children used to play...
There are emblems for each building and office that were in the building
Last summer I went to see Ground Zero in NYC and that was equally emotional. In that case I remember seeing the World Trade Center when I was 9 or 10, so seeing the gaping hole that now exists where they used to stand was shocking. In the case of the OKC, I had never seen the Federal Building before...so trying to imagine what the area looked like before April 19, 1995 was difficult.
In any case, I believe that it is important to see these memorials if you are ever near them. They are heartbreaking and make you remember these times and these people who lost their lives. Sometimes I think we forget that "It can happen here".
Anyway...onto the pics.
The fence outside...
Looking into the memorial from the Gates of Time
The Gates of Time and the calming reflecting pool. One Gate reads 9:01 and the one on the other end reads 9:03. The bombing occurred at 9:02 a.m. 9:01 represents a time when the day was normal and people were going about their day. 9:03 is for when American's lives were changed forever. The reflecting pool runs where 5th street used to run alongside the Federal building.
Looking back on 5th street...you can see how they interrupted the street
The field of empty chairs is a very moving experience..
The small chairs are for the 19 children...:(
For some reason throughout the memorial I was drawn to Blake...and his was teh first chair I found.
Baylee is the baby in the photo that appeared on front covers everywhere...covered in blood and in a firefighters arms
The Survivor Tree...the first pic of this tree they can find is from the 1920's in a family's backyard. It has survived the growth of the city and was charred and broken when the bombing happened. It managed to survive and has become a symbol of survival and healing. They gave NYC a sampling from the tree after 9/11.
They put black bricks in the blown out windows to keep the feel of what this wall looked like after the blast. They chose not to renovate it.
Outpouring of love and support and prayers came from children worldwide. Some are represented here and children visiting can now leave messages on the chalkboards.
View across the reflecting pool on the Survivor Tree and Rescuers Orchard (I think that's what it was called).
They left this wall of the Federal Building standing
Views from where the entrance used to be.
Where the children used to play...
There are emblems for each building and office that were in the building
