Artist: Barbara Olson-Arenz of Firefighter Chris Fields and bombing victim Baylee Almon: from the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph - now the icon of this tradgedy.

Artist: Barbara Olson-Arenz of Firefighter Chris Fields cradling bombing victim Baylee Almon: from the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph - now the icon, if you will, of this tragedy.

The Change: Garth Brooks

One hand reaches out

and pulls a lost soul from harm

while a thousand more go unspoken for

They say what good have you done

By saving just this one

It's like whispering a prayer

In the fury of a storm

And I hear them saying you'll never change things

And no matter what you do it's still the same thing

But it's not the world that I am changing

I do this so this world will know

That it will not change me

This heart still believes

The love and mercy still exist

While all the hatred rage and so many say

That love is all but pointless in madness such as this

It's like trying to stop a fire

With the moisture from a kiss

And I hear them saying you'll never change things

And no matter what you do it's still the same thing

But it's not the world that I am changing

I do this so this world will know

That it will not change me

As long as one heart still holds on

Then hope is never really gone

I hear them saying you'll never change things

And no matter what you do it's still the same thing

But it's not the world that I am changing

I do this so this world we know

Never changes me

What I do is so

This world will know

That it will not change me

Chris Fields, firefighter, OKC, Oklahoma

Baylee Almon

Danielle Bell

Peachlyn Bradley

Gabreon Bruce

Zachary Chavez

Antonio Cooper

Christopher Cooper

Tevin Garrett

Tyler Eaves

Ashley Eckles

Kevin Gotshall

Blake Kennedy

Domonique London

Chase and Colton Smith

Kayla Titsworth

Aaron and Elijah Coverdale

Jaci Rae Coyne

Beautiful Oklahoma Angels...

...You will never be                               forgotten.

Home

I saw a shooting star, like a diamond in the sky...

it must be someone's soul,

passing by...

(Robbie Robertson)

"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." -- quoted from the site of the OKC Memorial.

While in Oklahoma City for a National Botball tournament my students were entered in, we visited the site of the OKC bombing tragedy (The Murrah Federal Building). My students (an all-female robotics team) were as moved by the experience as I was. I shamefully admit I wasn't as taken in by the whole thing in 1995 as I am now. When things happen far away from one's home, it is hard to imagine, impossible really, the magnitude of such hatred. Now I am learning that Tim McVeigh's activity here might be linked to Al Qaeda. In any case, if you can, go inside this memorial - your life will truly change. It was a beautifully tasteful, but equally heartbreaking, memorial.  Please go to the link provided on my home page.....

2003

On April 19, 1995,168 people died in this tragedy, but many thousands more were victims. I returned to Oklahoma in February 2005, near the 10th anniversary of this evil event, and I found that Oklahomans still grieve and the wounds are still there. BUT Oklahoma has moved on and they are among the friendliest people I have met. They have not forgotten, and few have not necessarily forgiven, but they are a strong and God-loving people.

2005

Nineteen children and one hundred forty-nine adults perished. Here are the names of the 149 adults who died that day as a result of Tim McVeigh's hate:

Names from Where Was God At 9:02am.? by Robin Jones (copyright 1995).

Lucio Aleman (33)Donald Burns (63)Mary Fritzler (57)         Alvin Justes (54)   Eula Mitchell (64)Virginia Thompson (56)

Richard Allen (46)Karen Carr (32)      Laura Garrison (61)      Carole Khalil (50)  John Moss (51)    Ricky Tomlin (46)

Ted Allen (48)       Michael Carillo (44)        Jamie Genzer (32)         Valerie Koelsch (33)       Patricia Nix (47)    LaRue Treanor (56)

Teresa Alexander (33)    Rona Chafey (35)  Margaret Goodson (54)        Caroline Kreymborg (57)        Jerry Parker (45)   Luther Treanor (61)

Diane Althouse (45)       Robert Chipman (51)      Ethel Griffin (55) Teresa Lauderdale (41) Jill Randolf (27)    Larry Turner (43)

Rebecca Anderson (37)           Kimberly Clark (39)        Colleen Guiles (59)      Kathy Leinen (47)Michelle Reeder (33)     Jules Valdez (50)

Pamela Argo (36)   Margaret Clark (42)        Randolf Guzman (28)   Carrie Lenz (26)    Terry Rees (41)    John VanEss (67)

Saundra Avery (34)         Dana Cooper (24)Cheryl Hammons (44)  Donald Leonard (50)      Mary Rentie (49) Johnny Wade (42)

Peter Avillanoza (56)       Harley Cottingham (46)Ronald Harding (55)    Lakesha Levy (21)Antonio Reyes (55)      David Walker (54)

Calvin Battle (62)   Kim Cousins (33)Thomas Hawthorne (52)        Rheta Long (60)    Kathryn Ridley (24)      Robert Walker (52)   

Peola Battle (56)     Kathy Cregan (60)         Doris Higginbottom (44)      Michael Loudenslager (48)     Trudy Rigney (31)         Wanda Watkins (49)

Oleta Biddy (54)     Richard Cummins (55)   Anita Hightower (27) Aurelia Luster (43)Claudine Ritter (48)       Michael Weaver (45)

Shelly Bland (25)    Steven Curry (44)Gene Hodges (54)       Robert Luster (45) Christy Rosas (22)        Julie Welch (23)

Andrea Blanton (33)        Brenda Daniels (42)      Peggy Holland (37)     Michael Maroney (50)    Sonja Sanders (27)       Robert Westberry (57)

Olen Bloomer (61)  Benjamin Davis (   )       Linda Housely (53)     James Martin (34)  Lanny Scroggins (46)  Alan Whicher (40)

Lola Bolden (40)     Diana Day (38)    George Howard (45)    Gilberto Martinez (35)     Kathy Seidl (39)  JoAnn Whittenberg (40)

James Boles (51)    Peter DeMaster (44)      Wanda Howell (34)     James McCarthy (53)      Leora Sells (57)   Francis Williams (48)

Mark Bolte (27)      Castine Deveroux (49)  Robbin Huff (37)         Kenneth McCullough (36)        Karan Shepherd (27)   Scott Williams (24)

Cassandra Booker (25)   Sheila Driver (28) Charles Hurlburt (73)  Betsy McGonnell (47)     Victoria Sohn (36)        William S. Williams (42)

Carole Bowers (53)Susan Ferrell (37)Jean Hurlburt (67)        Linda McKinney (47)                John Stewart (51)        Clarence Wilson (49)

Woodrow Brady (41)      Carroll Fields (48)Paul Ice (42)       Cartney McRaven (   )     Dolores Stratton (51)   Ronota Woodbridge (31)

Cynthia Brown (26)         Katherine Finley (44)    Christi Jenkins (32)     Claude Medearis (41)      Emilio Tapia (50) Sharon Woodchestnut (47)

Paul Broxterman (43)       Judy Fisher (45)   Norma Johnson (62)   Claudette Meek (43)       Victoria Texter (37)        Tresia Worton (28)       Kimberely Burgess (29)  Linda Florence (43)       Raymond Johnson (59)        Frankie Merrell (23)        Charlotte Thomas (43)   John Youngblood (52)

David Burkette (47)         Donald Fritzler (64)       Larry Jones (46) Derwin Miller (27) Michael Thompson (46)

Rebecca's story...

Rebecca Anderson was a nurse who was injured in the bombing. Though she suffered a head injury, she managed to pull two other victims from the building and saving their lives, before she collapsed from her own injuries. She died on April 23, 1995. The Oklahoma City Fire Department made Rebecca an honorary firefighter, posthumously, because of her bravery and the selfless act she demonstrated in the spirit of a true firefighter. She was the only "rescue worker" to die. By the standards as defined by the OCFD, Rebecca was a true hero.