16 Years ago today 168 people lost their lives in the Oklahoma City Bombing.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial stands where the Murrah building stood. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.
I was living in Tulsa when it occurred. I remember at first it was speculated that Islamic terrorists had perpetrated the crime. Within hours though we found out it was our our own countrymen who planned and executed the killings.
16 Years later all is quiet and peaceful.
Amond the tranquility there are few raw reminders of that day.
It is a very emotional place.
Visitors talk softly, it is like being in a church or other sacred place.
Memorials like this are very important. We don’t ever want to forget what happened, even though many of us still don’t understand how such a thing could occur.
What a wonderful tribute. Thank you for this post and your beautiful images.
It’s hard to believe it was 16 years ago. Seems more like five or six to me…maybe 10. Such a terrible tragedy!
Thanks for posting this today. I was nearby in Norman, OK finishing up my student teaching.
A fantastic post and tribute! Your photos are incredible! Such a beautiful memorial. I remember the day as vividly as if it were yesterday. I was living in Portland at the time and everyone was walking around in a daze wondering just how anything like that could happen. Little did we know there would be another horror so soon. Hope your week is going well!
Sylvia
Wonderfull post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Was it really 16 years ago? I remember it like it was yesterday, such an awful, awful and very sad day. I can just imagine how emotional it is to walk around this monument. I felt emotionally rended when I visited the temporary make-shift memorial in Pennsylvania after 9/11. I get that same feeling when I walk the length of The Wall in Washington DC. Your photos are magnificent, showing a very beautiful memorial and a lovely tribute.
Well done Alan. I was at my desk on the 4th floor of the Sabre office building NE of the Tulsa airport . I remember I heard, or maybe felt a soft “whump” just after 9:00 AM and a few minutes later heard someone shout out the news that there had been a bombing in Oklahoma City. A group of us crowded around a TV set in one of the conference rooms and watch in disbelief as firemen began to bring the living and the dead out from the wreckage. The memorial captures a lot of that feeling as do your photographs.
Your last picture of the statue says it all. What a poignant reminder. Thanks for sharing!
A wonderful place – and sadly, a necessary one. That last photo says it all…
And Jesus wept.
He did. And He is present there, you can feel His peace and you’ve captured the memorial so well in your pictures and words.
I completely forgot what the date was today. Boo. =(
This just makes me sad. M and I went for a visit recently. It’s just such an emotional place. I hope nothing like that ever happens again.
Stupid bastards. <—I totally used a cuss word on your blog. I’m sorry. I could have said worse.
what a spiritual place, you’ve captured the place
I can’t believe 16 years has already passed, but the memory of this tragic event still remains with us.
Yogi, I can remember exactly where i was on that terrible day in Tulsa. The memorial is beautiful – thank you for reminding us of those who are gone but not forgotten.
Thank you for the reminder, it is a beautiful memorial but so sad that it is needed.
Truly a great tribute.
One must not forget.
Beautiful photos and words. You captured it.
Amazing post. A sobering thought for democracy.
Looks like it’s still a very sensitive and emotional topic for a lot of people, even 16 years later. I learned about the tragic event when I came to Canada as it is less “famous” in Europe.
I was a graduate student in Dublin, Ireland, when this happened. I remember some high and mighty intellectuals speculating on how and why America deserved it. Those intellectuals were also our countrymen. The desperate need for compassion is overwhelming.