Oklahoma City, OK

We arrived in Oklahoma City on Thursday, August  20 and have just enjoyed spending time together without doing anything.  The weather here has been nice but storms were predicted but so far have not appeared.  Thank goodness.  Oklahoma has so many tornadoes and I just don't really like to be in the area.  Ron was able to find a cover for our water heater at a local RV repair shop so that problem is solved.  Though it is white in color, at least the area is now covered.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Today we take a drive downtown to the Oklahoma City National Memorial which I can only say is thought provoking.  It is a beautiful site with the outdoor symbolic memorial and a museum.  The Memorial honors those who were killed, those who survived and those who lives where changed forever.  It is a sight that changed our world forever as well.

The Outside Symbolic Memorial encompasses the following:
1.  Gates of Time which frame the area that was destroyed (see pictures below showing the wall at each end of the Reflecting Pool).
2.  A Reflecting Pool which was once a street and is now a shallow pool of gently flowing water.

Next to the wall on the right in the second photo is where the Survivor Wall is located (mentioned in # 6 below).
3.  A Field of Empty Chairs (one for each person who died in the building and arranged in 9 rows, one for each floor of the building and a chair for each person who died on that floor).  Each bronze chair has an enclosed glass below the seat with the name of the person who died etched into the glass.  At night this area under the seat is lighted.

4.  A Survivor Tree (a 90 year old elm) which survived the fire and blast with a wall around it which says, "The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us."  The Building behind the tree was the Journal Building which now houses the Museum.

5.  The Fence which was put up to protect the site initially, but now is where people have left over 80,000 items as tokens of love and hope.  Many of the items are now preserved in archives.
6.  Survivor Wall which is the only remaining wall from the Murrah Building and includes the names of individuals who survived, many with serious injuries.  More than 600 names are inscribed on salvaged pieces of granite.
7.  Children's Area which is a wall of hand painted tiles that were sent to the city in 1995 by children.

8.  Rescuer's Orchard which is a grove of trees that surround the Survivor Tree (can be seen in the photos of the Survivor Tree).

The Museum is very beautifully done and is field with many artifacts, stories, pictures,  and news reports told in chronological order including a tape recording of a proceeding that was taking place in the Murrah Building when the bomb went off.  Also included is information and pictures about how evidence was gathered and other information about the capture and trial of the individuals responsible.  There are pictures of individuals telling their stories and a gallery of pictures of each of the persons who died along with some object of the individual such as a toy or picture or other memorabilia.  Very touching and very sad.  There were quite a few people in the Museum and it was probably the most quiet Museum I have ever been in with everyone reflecting on what had happened here.

Following is a quote from the Museum brochure which says it all about the Memorial.  "We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever.  May all who leave here know the impact of violence.  May this Memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity."