Reflection

 

This week has been an extremely sad week for Americans.

As we are all glued to the TV watching the horror unfold,

I have been reflecting on the events of April 19th, 1995.

 

In February when we went to San Antonio ,

and on the recommendation of a friend ,

we stopped in Oklahoma to visit the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.

 

 

 

Sis and I had lived in Oklahoma for a few years when we were kids ,

and have always felt a kinship with the state .

 

It was a very moving experience to say the least .

 

 

On the morning of April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a rental truck with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and at 9:02am, a massive explosion occurred which sheared the entire north side of the building, killing 168 people.

 ( copied from the Memorial website )

 

 

This section of the Memorial represents the 168 people that were killed .

Each row represents the floor of the building they were on .

And each chair represents a victim.

 

The first row / floor has the most chairs,

that is where the daycare was located .

 

This was the hardest for me to fathom ...

innocent children.

 

What makes a person so consumed with hatred that they have no regard for the innocent ?

 

I can't and won't understand it .

 

The events of this week and the tragedy in Boston , have brought it to the surface again.

 

However, when you go to the memorial  ,

you have a sense of peace ,

of a city and nation that came together to create a beautiful and lasting tribute to those lost .

 

 

The Survivor Tree.

 

Just a common AMERICAN elm .

It withstood the blast and stands proud still .

 

 

Engraved on the wall surrounding the Survivor Tree,

 is this quote,

" The Spirit of this City and this Country will not be defeated ; our deeply rooted faith sustains us . "

 

That is my hope and my prayer for the city of Boston ,

all the victims and the loved ones of victims ,

and really , all of the citizens of

OUR great country .

 

Peace to you all ...