Like the response to the event it was meant to commemorate, the creation of the Oklahoma City National Memorial has been a cooperative effort involving many people and all levels of government. In 1995, Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick appointed a 350-member task force to explore ways to remember this tragic event and honor those killed. In March 1999, the task force issued its report. In the Memorial Mission Statement, the Task Force called for the creation of a memorial to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever – in short, all who were touched directly or indirectly by the bombing.

THE TASK FORCE ALSO CALLED FOR THESE MAJOR COMPONENTS

• In September 1996, the Task Force became the Oklahoma City National Memorial, a private 501(c)(3) dedicated to fulfilling that mission. From the very beginning, committees were drawn from the families of those who were killed in the bombing, survivors, first responders and volunteers who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts, and community volunteers.
• The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial was dedicated on April 19, 2000, the fifth anniversary of the bombing. President William J. Clinton joined more than 20,000 people to dedicate the site. Less than a year later, President and Mrs. George W. Bush dedicated the Memorial Museum on Presidents’ Day, February 19, 2001.

Join Kimberly & Haven as they tour the National Memorial in Oklahoma City.  You can email Kimberly at Kimbelry@deathbydesign.com for more information.