The Oklahoma River Trail system provided the last 22 miles needed to complete this part of our 50 in 50 Challenge. Mother Nature gave us blue skies, sunshine and light breezes for the ride. We rode along the river to the Boathouse District to see the OKC National High Performance Center, an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training site — a 4000 meter race and training course. We were excited for the opportunity to watch kayakers and rowers practice their sports. What teamwork and precision is needed to maneuver those boats!
The Bricktown Canal Trail took us past the Centennial Land Run Monument that commemorates the opening of the Unassigned Land in Oklahoma Territory with the Land Run of 1889. It is one of the world’s largest bronze sculptures featuring 45 heroic figures of land run participants frozen in motion as they race to claim new homesteads. (See http://www.landrun.marbleart.us for more details/pictures of the monument.) Sue was especially moved as she looked at the monument. She couldn’t help wondering if her ancestors had been one of the participants in this run in 1889.
This afternoon we toured the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, built to tell the story of April 19, 1995, the date of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The bombing was the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism in our nation’s history. Through exhibits, theaters and interactive experiences, the museum tells the story of the events of that day. The outdoor memorial contains the Field of Empty Chairs, the Survivor Tree and the Gates of Time. The twin gates, standing at the ends of a reflecting pool, frame the moment of destruction at 9:02am. The 9:01 East Gate represents the innocence before the attack. The 9:03 West Gate marks the moment when healing began. Engraved on one of the gates are these words, “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.”
Another reunion came with dinner tonight. Bill’s Aunt Darlene joined us for a delicious barbecue dinner at one of her favorite restaurants. More memories and updates on family members were shared. Bill and I were again reminded of the importance and blessings of older generations and extended family.
After dark, we returned to the Oklahoma City National Memorial to see the Field of Empty Chairs. Located where the Murrah Federal Building once stood, the chairs are arranged in nine rows to represent the 9 floors of the former building. Each person’s chair is positioned in the row that corresponds to the floor on which they worked or were visiting. Each of the 168 glass and bronze chairs is etched with the name of a person killed in the bombing. The 19 smaller chairs represent the children who lost their lives. At night, the chairs light up as beacons of hope. It was a sombre and moving experience to see the memorial and to remember those who lost their lives in that senseless act in 1995.
50-in-50 Challenge 