In memory...

of the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.  

168 people were murdered that day, including 19 kids under 6 yrs old.  

More than 680 people were injured.

McVeigh was ultimately executed, Nichols imprisoned for life.  Good riddance.

 I first visited the memorial at night.  They did a wonderful job with it, and it was a moving experience.  Their message:  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.^®

The memorial is basically a big, shallow, reflecting pool with huge wall-gates on each end.  

 Before.

After.

On one end, the time reads 9:01.  On the other, 9:03.  The symbolism:  the attack took place at 9:02, so one minute before represents the innocence of everyday life, and one minute after, lives changed forever. 

Each wall-gate is actually two walls.

Along one side of the reflecting pool is a field full of chair sculptures.  They are empty and represent each person killed, organized into nine lines for the nine floors of the building.

 May these souls rest much more peacefully than the way in which their lives were taken...

 The remains of the federal building walls, which encompass some of the memorial park.  Seeing this was as jarring and awareness-forcing as anything at the memorial, in my opinion. 

 Later, I went back during the daytime.

 The memorial museum, reflected in the pool.

 The empty seats.

More memorials.   17 years later but not forgotten.  Could YOU forget if it had been your wife/mom/husband/dad/daughter/son/other relative/friend????????????