Lost but not Forgotten

I know the 19th has come and gone, but I thought I'd share the importance of that day. Do you recall the bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995? Do you remember where you were on April 19, 1995? I don't, but I do remember the bombing.

My husband and I were in Oklahoma a few years after this sad day in our American history. We went to the building on the annaversary of that bombing and did a tour they had. It's a memorial now, sort of a museum to remember that day. It changed so many lives.

A part of the remodel, they repurposed pieces of that day. They left parts of the walls open and filled them in with the toys that were left behind with a plexiglass to hold it up. You can see the damage left behind and see the reminders of who was lost. During a portion of the tour, you hear a recording of a business meeting that took place accross the street at the time of the explosion. You can hear the bomb go off. You can hear the building shake, the people screaming, and the horrific realization that something happened. Outside of the building, you can see the chairs lined up in the year--each one represents a life that was lost. At the time we were there, the area was still in construction so we couldn't walk up to the chairs, but each one has a plaque with the name of the person.

Billy and I watched a documentary of the event. If I had seen this documentary before taking the tour, I probably would have been one of those few people who couldn't finish the tour. It was heart wrenching. At that time, it was the worst terrorist attack this country had seen. This was before those planes crashed in the world towers. We were visiting the city and had been in the area when we learned they had a free pass to walk the tour. I remember feeling so sad for everyone who was lost. Seeing those toys broke my heart. I'm so glad they caught the men involved and gave all those people the justice they deserved. But my heart still hurts for them. And for those they left behind.

Please remember those who were lost so they will never be forgotten. Thank you