Symbols of hope and faith began to appear near the bombing site, which gave family members, survivors and rescue workers strength. Two special symbols, the Survivor Tree, and the Fence, are widely recognized still today. The Survivor Tree, thought to be too badly damaged to survive, gives visitors of the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial hope and comfort.The first Fence was installed to protect the site of the Murrah Building. Almost immediately, people began to leave tokens of love and hope on the Fence. Those items now total more than 60,000 and some are collected and preserved in our archives. Today, more than 200 feet of the original Fence gives people the opportunity to leave tokens of remembrance and hope.
Donna Weaver, family member, and Richard Williams, survivor, discuss how their strong resolve and spirit helped them heal.
Mike Boettcher, Correspondent in Residence at the University of Oklahoma, has served on the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Media Symposium panel The Public’s Right to Know, and has spoken to many University groups from around the world at the Memorial. As he prepares to leave for Afghanistan where he will be embedded with the U.S. Military, Boettcher gives his perspective on Oklahoma City’s response to the April 19, 1995, bombing.
