Oklahoma City had its greatest success through inclusion of all parties directly impacted by the incident and by founding its planning process on what the Memorial should convey rather than on the appearance of the Memorial.
June 28, 1995
A letter was sent to prospective members to create the Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building Memorial Task Force. Chaired by Robert M. Johnson, with Karen Luke serving as the Vice-Chair, and Rowland Denman as the Executive Director, this was an all volunteer force. The task force was to create and administer the planning process, resulting in a recommendation to Mayor Norick and the City Council, a design for the Memorial which was to be enduring, appropriate and sensitive to those most directly affected by the bombing, and to provide funding for completion and possibly ongoing administration and maintenance of the Memorial.
From the pennies of school children to six-figure donations, thousands of gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations contributed to the creation of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The 168 Pennies and 168 Days fundraising campaigns spread beyond Oklahoma City and throughout the nation. Each donation strengthened the resolve of this community as it continued to show the world it would not be defeated, but would rise again.
