Do you remember?

I spent this evening doing something I have never done before, despite the fact that I've lived in Oklahoma my entire life (minus the last eight years). I'm ashamed I have never done this before, being an Oklahoma. Sixteen years ago, on April 19, 1995, close to two hundred people were killed in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in downtown Oklahoma City. Tonight, I visited the memorial. Even though I did not have the chance to experience the museum, standing in the same spot where so many hundreds, and possibly thousands, either lost their lives or worked to rescue and save lives was moving. I'm ashamed that I have not experienced this sooner in my life. This was truly a surreal moment as I stood there remembering where I was and what I was doing on this tragic day in American history. I remember watching the news, reading countless newspaper and magazine articles, and now watching anniversary specials recalling that day.


Before one even enters the memorial, attention is immediately drawn to the statue of Jesus that stands on the corner across from the bombing site. What once used to be a part of church, the statue now stands there with three small but extremely powerful words inscribed at the foot of the statue: "And Jesus Wept." Three small words that speak volumes. Immediately across the street, still not inside the actual memorial, one can walk along the sidewalk and grasp of feeling of who the people were who lost their lives that day. There are mini memorials family members and friends have left to honor their fallen loved ones. Shoes hanging, key chains, Christmas wreaths, poems, bibles, t-shirts signed by loved ones with a special message or a scripture verse. To me, this was the most moving of the memorial. That is, until I entered. Upon entering, there are chairs on one side of a pool of water. The chairs were strategically placed to represent the lives lost on the nine floors of the Murrah building as well as five other chairs to represent the five individuals who were standing outside the building at the time of the bombing. On each chair, a name is inscribed. Finally, on each end of the pool of water are two tall walls, one end says 9:01, the other 9:03 - the time frame of the bombing when peace quickly turned to chaos, when love turned to hate, when fear and sadness consumed us all.


As I spent the hour or so walking around the grounds, it brought sadness to my heart, but it also made me reflect on life and how fragile life is and it can be taken from us at any given moment. I have been blessed in my life that I have not been a victim of losing  loved one due to a tragic event. Yes, I've lost loved ones due to illness and old age, but this is something I can't even fathom experiencing....and hope I never have to.


Pictures to come....