OKC National Memorial

Our family traveled to Oklahoma City and while we were there we visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial.  It was a very somber experience.  

The Gates of Time are found at each end of the Reflecting Pool.  The East Gate is stamped with the time of 9:01 to represent the innocence of the city before the attack.   The West Gate is stamped with the time of 9:03 to represent the moment we were changed forever.

This is one of the only walls from the original Murrah Building.

The Field of Empty Chairs consists of 168 chairs to symbolize the lives lost, with smaller chairs representing the 19 children lost.  They are arranged in nine rows, one for each of the nine floors of the building and are placed according to the floor on which those who killed were working or visiting.

The Survivor Tree is a 90 year old American Elm that survived the bombing and is still growing strong today.

The boys standing by the wall surround the Survivor Tree.  The West Gate is seen in the back ground.

The Children's Area consists of a wall of hand painted tiles sent to OKC in 1995 from children around the state and country.