Life @ 70 mph - The A.P. Murrah Federal Building Memorial

I got into town around 11 AM on Sunday morning and immediately went to the memorial. It was approximately 1/2 mile from my hotel. A good walk after my drive.

Oklahoma City, whose downtown is about like any other downtown area, is basically a ghost town on Sunday morning. As I walked to the memorial, there was virtually no traffic and I even stepped out into the street to shoot a couple of pictures.

The memorial however was a different story. As I approached it I noticed several people crossing the street. I found about 100 other people besides me paying their respects that morning. I found it really hard to take the pictures without people in them.

I hope the pictures remind you just how serious the reality of terrorism in our homeland is.

Click any thumbnail for an 800 X 600 pixel image.

The entrance to the memorial overlook from Robinson Street. From up here you can see the entire memorial area.

The field of empty chairs. There are 168 empty chairs that stand as a reminder of each life lost. The chairs are placed in nine rows, representing the nine floors of the building. They are placed according to the floor on which those killed worked or were visiting. The symbolic chairs are designed in two sizes, the smaller size representing the absence of 19 children. Each chair is made from bronze and stone; its glass base is etched with the name of a victim. By day, the chairs seem to float above their translucent bases. By night, the glass bases illuminate as beacons of hope. The field's perimeter matches the footprint of the former Murrah Building and is lined with a granite path. This granite was salvaged from the Murrah Plaza.

The Gates of Time. There are walls at each end of the reflecting pool. The wall to the left is the 9:01 wall and the wall to the right is the 9:03 wall. Since the explosion took place at 9:02 AM these two walls represent the time before and after Oklahoma City was changed forever. The reflecting pool sits on what was originally NW Fifth Street on which the building faced.

Survivor Wall. At the east
end of the memorial area stands the only remaining wall of the Murrah Building

Message Wall. A rescue worker originally painted this message during search and rescue efforts. (see inset)

The Survivor Tree. The Survivor Tree is a 90-year-old American Elm which bears witness to the violence of April 19 and now sands as a profound symbol of human resilience. The circular promontory surrounding the tree offers a place for gathering and viewing the Memorial and downtown Oklahoma City. The message to visitors reads: The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us.

Overview of the Memorial grounds taken from the Survivor Tree platform.

Satellite view of bombing's aftermath.

The south wall of the Journal-Record Building which was heavily damaged by it's direct impact of the explosion. The image on the right explains the damage and repairs made to the building.

::: The Memorial Wall :::

And Jesus Wept. A church across the street (First United Methodist, I believe) erected this memorial dedicated to the souls lost in the bombing and their families.

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