Heading Home - Day 4

Before driving to Little Rock, Arkansas, Mom and Dad visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial in Oklahoma. It is the largest memorial of its kind in the United States and honors the victims, survivors and rescuers affected by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19. 1995. Although it was a sad place to visit, this memorial was also uplifting and inspiring. The memorial portrays how people came together during this unforeseen crisis, helping others in their time of need.

Pictured above is what is left of the exterior wall of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building due to the extensive damage caused by the bombing.

A chain link fence was placed by the bombing to protect the site from damage and visitors from injury. This fence stood for more than four years and became famous itself, with visitors leaving stuffed animals, poems, keychains, and other items there as tributes. Visitors still leave small items along and in the fence.

On a corner adjacent to the memorial is a sculpture of Jesus weeping erected by a church that once stood at this site prior to the bombing. It is based upon John 11:35, "Jesus wept." over his friend's Lazarus death. St. Joseph's Catholic Church, one of the first brick and mortar churches in the city, was almost completely destroyed by the blast.

Also pictured above is one of the two Gates of Time. The bombing occurred at 9:02 am. Time stamps - 9:01 representing the last moments of peace and 9:03 representing the first moments of recovery - are inscribed on the interior of the monument, facing each other and the Reflecting Pool. The outside of each gate bears this inscription: 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.

Here is the Reflecting Pool, a thin layer of water flowing over polished black granite. Visitors who see their reflection in this pool are seeing "a face of a person changed by domestic terrorism."

Here's the Field of Empty Chairs, where there are 168 hand-crafted chairs made of glass and bronze. Each chair represents one of the 168 people who lost their lives in the tragedy, symbolizing their empty chair at their families dinner tables.

19 smaller chairs represent the children who were killed in the bombing.

After recalling the tragedy of the bombing that took place in Oklahoma City in 1995, Mom and Dad needed a little pick me up and lunch before getting back on the road again. So, they went to Toby Keith's I Love this Bar and Grill restaurant. They had a good lunch in this fun atmosphere and then drove to Little Rock, Arkansas.

Tomorrow we plan to be home by late afternoon. I am so glad that we are able to be home for the holidays!