Press Releases

PERSONAL STORIES BRING ‘FIRST PERSON’ PERSPECTIVE TO MEMORIAL MUSEUM VISITORS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 3, 2009

CONTACT: Nancy Coggins, APR
405.235.3313 or 405.760.9053
nc@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org

PERSONAL STORIES BRING ‘FIRST PERSON’ PERSPECTIVE TO MEMORIAL MUSEUM VISITORS
Summer Series highlights remarkable stories of real people

OKLAHOMA CITY — Each Friday this summer, visitors to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum will have a unique opportunity to hear from some of the people most affected by the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

“This program is so popular with our visitors because it gives them a chance to hear how someone so profoundly affected by this act of terrorism has been able to move forward, to pick up the pieces of his or her life and find hope,” said Kari Watkins, Executive Director, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “Historical museums very rarely have the opportunity to allow visitors to hear from those who are part of that piece of history and the effect these programs have on our visitors is truly inspiring.”

The First Person: Stories of Hope programs will be held each Friday, June 5-August 28 at 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Museum. The programs are free with paid admission to the Memorial Museum.

First Person Summer Series 2009
June 5      Robert Dennis, Survivor, United States District Court & U. S. Magistrate Judge Ron Howland (Retired)
June 12    Amy Petty, Survivor, Federal Employees Credit Union
June 19    Major Ed Hill, Oklahoma City Police Department
June 26    Priscilla Salyers, Survivor, U. S. Customs Office
July 3       Laura Oak, Survivor, Oklahoma Water Resources Board and her husband Mark
July 10     Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Family Member
July 17     Frank & Cathy Keating, Former Governor & First Lady of Oklahoma
July 24     Rockie Yardley, Edmond Police Department
July 31     Kim Neese, Survivor, Oklahoma Water Resources Board
August 7   Chief Keith Bryant, Oklahoma City Fire Department
August 14 Cynthia Ferrell-Ashwood, Family Member, and husband Albert Ashwood, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
August 21 Duane Smith, Survivor, Oklahoma Water Resources Board
August 28 Charlie Hanger, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper in 1995

This program is also available by advanced request to groups visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum was created to honor those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The Memorial and Museum are dedicated to educating visitors about the impact of violence, informing about events surrounding the bombing, and inspiring hope and healing through lessons learned by those affected.

The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is free of charge. The Memorial Museum is open Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday, 1-6p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62+) and $6 for students (six years old - college with valid ID). Children under six are admitted free. Group rates and programs are available. Special exhibits are included in the cost of admission. Ticket sales end at 5 p.m. daily. The Museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

For more information on the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, call (888) 542-HOPE or visit www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.

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Photos and bios of First Person speakers are available to media outlets needing images. Please e-mail Nancy Coggins (nc@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org) to request images or bios for publication.

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