Day 2 Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum

To those who wonder if it’s all fun?.... Today changed us. Today our faith walked with us as we learned a part of history and the world we are living in. We are not the same after today. April 19, 1995.... The day that started like any other. And at 9:03am, it would never be the same again. And looking around most of these youth had no idea it even happened... not to mention the fact that they weren’t even born yet. And how many times can you take 62 people to a museum and all ages are so into the information around them? The museum walks you through the experience. You see the history of the site. You hear the only recording of the blast two minutes into a Water Resources Board Meeting. You see videos of chaos and confusion and the many many people who came together to help. You learn of the 168 people who died and the 19 children who were playing at the daycare at the time because their parents had just dropped them off. You see and hear so much somber and unreal things. And in that day, the country was glued to the tv....The youth were so respectful as they learned and absorbed all they could. But it was also such a wonder to watch them learn about how so many people came together to help. When you step outside and walk through the Outdoor Memorial with the Gates of Time, the Reflecting Pool, the Fence, the Survivor Wall, the Survivor Tree...something changes. And I can’t even begin the find the words to explain when we walked through the Field of Empty Chairs. 168 to represent all who died. 19 smaller ones for the children. The field matched the footprints of the building and how many died on each floor. The chairs were made of granite, glass, and bronze to show the uniqueness of each person...none being the same. The intentionality of every piece of the Memorial showed the determination to turn the violence into vigilance. You stayed sober yet found a sense of peace. The mission statement was: “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. ..... and this we did. ❤️