Oklahoma City National Memorial
Grandma Wendy came to town for a week and we had so much fun hanging out. The only time we actually got out the camera was when we stopped by the Oklahoma City National Memorial right before we dropped her off at the airport on January 31, 2012.
We couldn't have picked a more beautiful day to go to the memorial. I had heard good things about it and it certainly lived up to those expectations. I was really wishing Albert was there, he would love it (plus he would have been the photographer instead of me). It's beautiful and peaceful just like a memorial should be. It was really sad looking at those little chairs symbolizing the children that were killed. It's still crazy to think that something so horrific could happen anywhere, but especially in Oklahoma.
They offer $5 parking in a designated lot, but we found on the street parking for $.25/half hour. You can take a viritual tour here.
We couldn't have picked a more beautiful day to go to the memorial. I had heard good things about it and it certainly lived up to those expectations. I was really wishing Albert was there, he would love it (plus he would have been the photographer instead of me). It's beautiful and peaceful just like a memorial should be. It was really sad looking at those little chairs symbolizing the children that were killed. It's still crazy to think that something so horrific could happen anywhere, but especially in Oklahoma.
They offer $5 parking in a designated lot, but we found on the street parking for $.25/half hour. You can take a viritual tour here.
Two of my favorite people: Quentin & Grandma Wendy
Gates of Time: "These monumental twin gates frame the moment of destruction – 9:02 a.m. – and mark the formal entrances to the Memorial. The East Gate represents 9:01 a.m. on April 19, and the innocence of the city before the attack. The West Gate represents 9:03 a.m., the moment we were changed forever, and the hope that came from the horror in the moments and days following the bombing."
9:01 gate
Reflecting Pool: "The pool occupies what was once N.W. Fifth Street. Here, a shallow depth of gently flowing water helps soothe wounds, with calming sounds providing a peaceful setting for quiet thoughts. The placid surface shows the reflection of someone changed forever by their visit to the Memorial."
9:03 gate
Field of Empty Chairs: "The 168 chairs represent the lives taken on April 19, 1995. They stand in nine rows to represent each floor of the building, and each chair bears the name of someone killed on that floor. Nineteen smaller chairs stand for the children. The field is located on the footprint of the Murrah Building."
Field of Chairs
Survivor Wall: "On the east end of the Memorial stand the only remaining walls from the Murrah Building. These walls remind us of those who survived the terrorist attack, many with serious injuries. Today, more than 600 names are inscribed on salvaged pieces of granite from the Murrah Building lobby."
The Survivor Tree: "The Survivor Tree, an American Elm, bore witness to the violence of April 19, 1995, and withstood the full force of the attack. Years later, it continues to stand as a living symbol of resilience. The circular promontory surrounding the tree offers a place for gathering and viewing the Memorial."
Children's Area: "In the aftermath of the blast, children from around the country and the world sent in their own expressions of encouragement and love. That care is represented today by a wall of tiles painted by children and sent to Oklahoma City in 1995. In addition, buckets of chalk and chalkboards built into the ground of the Children's Area give children a place where they can continue to share their feelings -- an important component of the healing process."
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