Press Releases

Oklahoma City National Memorial Commemorates 12th Anniversary with Day of Remembrance

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
April 19, 2007 Event Wrap-up

Annual Remembrance Ceremony
9-10 a.m.
We gather each year on the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial site to remember “those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever” by the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building. Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation Chairman Burns Hargis, Oklahoma Lt. Governor Jari Askins, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressed attendees. Dina Abulon, whose step-father was killed in the bombing thanked the community for the support her family received following the bombing. Music, 168 seconds of silence and a reading of the names by family members and survivors were also a part of the ceremony. The piano John Lennon used to compose the hit song, Imagine, was played prior to the ceremony by UCO Jazz Lab director Brian Gorrell.

National Media Symposium: A Televised Conversation with Rudy Giuliani and Ron Norick
11 a.m. - noon
Following the Remembrance Ceremony, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum hosted its Annual National Media Symposium featuring former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick. These two former mayors helped lead their cities through acts of terrorism on American soil. This one-hour program, moderated by Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation Chairman Burns Hargis, gave these mayors the opportunity to talk about how leadership and putting a plan in place helped their cities respond to, recover and rebuild from these two acts of terrorism. The event focused not only on the successes, but on the challenges and obstacles encountered by both communities. This symposium was broadcast live locally by KFOR Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 and nationally by C-SPAN.

Memorial Museum admission
On this day, entry into the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum is free of charge, thanks to the generous support of Cox Communications. Thanks to Cox, more than 1800 people visited the Memorial Museum at no charge.

Reflections of Hope Award Ceremony and Dinner*
7 p.m.
The Reflections of Hope Award was created by the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation to recognize those who find and, by their actions, exemplify hope in the midst of tragedy, respond selflessly and give of themselves to improve the lives of others. The award, established in 2005 as part of the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Oklahoma City Bombing, honors a living person or group whose extraordinary work has significantly impacted a community, state or nation. It also exemplifies that hope not only survives but also thrives in the wake of political violence. This year’s honoree is Seeds of Peace, an organization dedicated to teaching the next generation of leaders about tolerance and peace. Student participants in the program from Hebron, Israel and Bethlehem, along with Seeds of Peace co-founder Barbara Gottschalk, were here to accept the award.

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 $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (62+) and $6 for students (5-college with valid ID). Children under 5 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 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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* Denotes official Oklahoma Centennial Event or Project

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