It's incredible, definitely worth a trip to Oklahoma City to see it.

I'm definitely planning on it now. I knew there was a memorial there, but I had no idea it was so beautiful.

Oh, and the thing with the kids putting their hand prints on the gate almost killed me too. What a sweet idea.

Bitch made me cry.

Amazingly, I didn't cry when I was there. I was in awe. While the museum obviously covers the tragic side of the event, it also uses a lot of space dedicated to the lives of the victims and also the way people came together for recovery after the bombing. Honestly, you walk away feeling okay about humanity. In light of the debates on the 9-11 memorial and the political messages they want to add, it's so nice to see something that just pays tribute to the victims and those who rescued hundreds others that day.

Bitter is right. Part of it is a celebration of how a community pulled together to heal.

But all those stories about the rescuers and the people of OK coming together made me cry, too.

I had just pulled myself together after the part with the recording of the bombing and I thought, "Ok. This is just about the rescue and the recovery. I'll be all right now." Then I read the story about when they asked for boots and a man came in and handed the volunteer a pair of worn work boots, then walked away in sock feet, and it got me going again.

I'm such a girl. (Like Ken.)

Lisa,
That was such a great post. Especially the photos of your little angels/devils making their handprints. Thank you so much for sharing. I would never have known I was missing such a great national treasure without it.

What a beautiful place.
I didn't believe in "spirits" until I went to the Arizona Memorial and the Wall in DC.
I'll bet there are spirits in OKC, too....
(Adding it to my list of Things To Do Before I Die.)

Thanks for sharing.

God Damn It. Now *I* feel like such a girl....

My best friend, Vulture Six from Vulture's Row, has joint custody of his kids with an ex from another state, and they meet at the memorial to make the handoff, he says it still makes him cry every time.