Category: News, observances, history

A Memorial to Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing

Photos from The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

updated April 10, 2026

At 9:02 AM April 19, 1995, a bomb exploded at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, destroying the front side of the building, damaging several adjacent buildings, injuring 680 people, and killing 168 people, including 19 children.

Until September 11, 2001, it was the deadliest terrorist attack on United States soil; it remains the worst domestic terrorist attack.

A memorial and museum now stand in silent tribute and remembrance.

  • gold memorial chairs surrounded by trees at the Oklahoma National Memorial
  • window at the Oklahoma City bombing museum
ABOVE: The Reflecting Pool and Field of Empty Chairs; the museum entrance, and the window overlooking the memorial
a chainlink fence with mementos-girl photo, teeshirts, wreaths, flag, toy

the chainlink fence displays mementos

a chainlink fence with mementos-stuffed dog, wreath, photo, plaque
a chainlink fence with mementos-wreath, photo, flag, ball cap

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.

mission statement of the memorial and museum

sections of the original building as they were immediately after the bombing, left standing as a reminder of the violence

There is a chair for each person who died that day, 168.

The Survivor Tree is an American elm tree in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City, it survived the bomb’s blast and witnessed one of the worst terrorist attacks on American Soil.

Museum website
The Survivor Tree, an American elm, survived the blast and is part of the Memorial.
a statue of Christ, hand covering His face
Jesus grieving at a church across the street
"We seek for the truth, we seek justice"
words written on the remaining wall of the Journal Record Building, also damaged that day

Tiles painted by children from all over the country, gifted to the museum, and displayed at the outside entrance.

The 9:03 Gate

The 9:01 Gate

The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is privately funded. The memorial is free and open to the public. An admission is charged to tour the museum.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization that owns and operates the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

It does not receive any annual operating funds from the federal, state, or local government.

The Survivor Tree

Sharing the HEARTS of those we have lost to violence

I took these photos on several visits to Oklahoma City from 2007 to 2020.

If you pass through Oklahoma, please stop and visit the Memorial and Museum. You will not regret the time spent and you will never feel the same.

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Dr. Aletha

The HEART of Easter

In this post I focus on the legacy of George Frideric Handel, who, unlike his barber-surgeon father, pursued music and composed the Easter oratorio “Messiah.” You may not hear Messiah at Easter services, but its message is just as applicable as it is to Christmas.

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”

Job 19:25

He is Risen-praise, honor, glory, power, king of kings-Hallelujah
graphic from LIGHTSTOCK.COM, an affiliate link

 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. “

1 Corinthians 15:56-57

 
 

“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.”

Not “Like Father, Like Son” 

I know families with multiple physicians, including parents, siblings, or children. My grandfather was a dentist, but he died before I was born. My sons had no interest in medicine and instead chose technology careers.

Georg Handel was a barber-surgeon in northern Germany in the 17th century. Barber-surgeons were physicians in medieval Europe who only performed surgery, often treating wounds from war injuries. Eventually, surgery and barbery became separate occupations.

His son George did not follow his father into medicine. Instead, George Frideric Handel  followed his HEART and studied music and eventually composed his masterpiece , Messiah, first performed in 1742, and presented countless times since then.

Modern choirs perform Messiah at Christmas, but Handel wrote it for Easter. The lyrics of the songs in Messiah explore the HEART of the  Bible with passages that tell the story of God sending Jesus to earth to redeem His people.

The London Symphony Orchestra presents Handel's Messiah

Find Handel’s Messiah on iTunes.

The HEART of Easter-watercresswords.com

The Lyrics of Messiah

The scripture references in this post are used as lyrics in songs from Messiah, including the song that brings the audience to its feet, Hallelujah.

The text for “Hallelujah” comes from the book of Revelation in the New Testament.

  • Revelation 19:6: “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
  • Revelation 19:16: “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”
  • Revelation 11:15 reads, “And he shall reign for ever and ever.”

The kingdom of this world;

is become the kingdom of our Lord,

and of His Christ

And He shall reign forever and ever

King of kings and Lord of lords

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Hallelujah

Sharing the HEART of Easter

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr Aletha

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