Happy 4th of July!

Since Tom's regular day off is on Wednesday and July 4th fell on Thursday this year (giving him two days off together), we decided to "get out of town" for a couple of days! 

We got up early and drove to Broken Bow, Okla. to Ambush Adventures located on the lower Mountain Fork River (a three hour drive from our house), where we had kayaks reserved for our trip down the river.

We have come here and took this same river trip for several years.  Ambush Adventure Outfitters shuttles us four miles north to Mountain Fork Park, which is located right behind the dam of Broken Bow Lake, where water is released regularly, flowing south in the Mountain Fork River. We did not want to take our good digital camera along on today's kayaking trip, however we did take an underwater disposable camera with us in 2010 when we did this same trip.  The river doesn't change much from year to year, so I will post a few of the photos from our 2010 trip here to show how beautiful the river and the surrounding scenery really is.

                                I think we were a couple of pounds heavier then!

                                Presbyterian Falls!  One of the most fun spots!!

                                My Sweetie peeking thru the cypress knees!

                                Cypress knees and rock gardens!

                                Rock gardens abound!  Fun to navigate through!

                       In some places, the river is very calm.

It is a four mile stretch of river from the dam, back to Ambush Adventure Outfitters, which is at the U.S. Hwy 70 bridge over the Mountain Fork River.  We took our time today and reached the "take out" point, which is after we pass under the Hwy. 70 bridge, in about three hours. There are some adventuresome souls who climb a ladder that is attached to one of the concrete bridge supports, and grab the rope that is hung from the bridge, to swing out over the river and drop down into the cold river water!!  Crazy, huh!

Following our breakfast the next morning at the Best Western Broken Bow Inn & Suites, we headed west on Okla. Hwy 3, which takes a diagonal path from Broken Bow all the way to Oklahoma City, passing thru many small Oklahoma towns.  We were practically the only vehicle on that highway for most of the way!  It was a very peaceful morning drive!  Even the traffic around Oklahoma City was very sparse.  I guess most folks are at home, or at the many lakes in the area, enjoying their July 4th.

Our destination today is the Oklahoma City Memorial & Museum, which commemorates the 168 Americans who died in the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

The horror in Oklahoma City happened only six years before the even more tragic day of 9-11!!  The Oklahoma City Memorial & Museum is a somber reminder of just how horrific terror and terrorists truly are, and they have changed our world forever.

There is a gate/wall at each end of the reflecting pool, which sits on what was NW 5th St., which passed in front of the Murrah Federal Bldg.  On one gate/wall is the time of 9:01, with the time of 9:03 on the other.

The Ryder truck bomb exploded at 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995.  There is a "Field of Empty Chairs", 168 in all, which sits on the footprint of the Murrah Building, with the names of those men, women, and children who died in this terroristic act of violence.

This 90+ year old American Elm tree, which was growing in the middle of a parking lot across the street from the Murrah Building, lives on.

This Survivor Tree bears witness to the violence of April 19, and now stands as a profound symbol of human resilience.  The message on the seating that surrounds this tree reads "The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us".

We toured the Museum which takes us minute-by-minute through the events of that horrific morning and its aftermath, hearing the actual bomb blast, hearing the many voices of those who were in or near that building, and the rescuers who so bravely responded to the victims of this act of terror.

No matter what our differences are politically, religiously, ethnically, or otherwise, we as Americans stand together to help each other in times of tragedy. 

This is a section of the actual fence that was erected around the Murrah Building during the recovery and clean up, and as you can see, even 18 years later visitors still leave mementos honoring those who died here.

                                            Unbelievable evil!

                                            Flags of all the rescue groups.

                                In this circular room is a photo w/a personal memento of each person who died in this tragedy.  As you can see, there were kids who died who were in the Murrah Building's daycare center that day.

In the Children's Area of the Memorial, there are walls of tiles that were made by children around the country and the world that showed their own expressions of encouragement and love and were sent to Oklahoma City in 1995.

                                In addition, there are chalkboards built into the ground of the Children's Area which give children a place where they can continue to share their feelings--an important component of the healing process.  There is a Park Ranger there to answer questions and hand out the chalk to children.

There were Park Rangers posted all around the Memorial grounds, very helpful to answer our questions and handing out Oklahoma City Memorial & Museum brochures. We are so glad to spend this 4th of July here in remembrance of the tragedy that was the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.  It helps to be reminded just how sad horrific acts of terror are.  We must treasure each and every day, which is a blessing from God.  Give those close to you a hug today and tell them how much you love them!