RESOLVE TO OVERCOME

Symbols of hope and faith began to appear near the bombing site, which gave family members, survivors and rescue workers strength. Two special symbols, the Survivor Tree, and the Fence, are widely recognized still today. The Survivor Tree, thought to be too badly damaged to survive, gives visitors of the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial hope and comfort.The first Fence was installed to protect the site of the Murrah Building. Almost immediately, people began to leave tokens of love and hope on the Fence. Those items now total more than 60,000 and some are collected and preserved in our archives. Today, more than 200 feet of the original Fence gives people the opportunity to leave tokens of remembrance and hope.

Donna Weaver, family member, and Richard Williams, survivor, discuss how their strong resolve and spirit helped them heal.

Mike Boettcher, Correspondent in Residence at the University of Oklahoma, has served on the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Media Symposium panel The Public's Right to Know, and has spoken to many University groups from around the world at the Memorial. As he prepares to leave for Afghanistan where he will be embedded with the U.S. Military, Boettcher gives his perspective on Oklahoma City's response to the April 19, 1995, bombing.

INTENDED AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

If the perpetrators of the April 19, 1995, bombing anticipated a slow or halt to the government agencies within the Murrah Building, they were mistaken. Within 72 hours of the bombing, every agency was back upand running.

If their intent was to create a rift between the people of this nation, in this they also failed in their goal. After the bombing, 12,384 volunteers and rescue workers participated in the rescue, recovery and support operations. The creation of the Memorial brought thousands together, from family members and survivors, to community leaders and volunteers. Each year, over half a million people from around the world come to show their respects and learn about the power of the Oklahoma Spirit at the Memorial and Museum.

The new Oklahoma City Federal Building was built directly across from the Memorial, showing that we the people, will not be threatened by terrorism.

OFFER INSIGHTS INTO ISSUES INVOLVING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES AT AN EARLY AGE

Dr. Robin Gurwitch, professor, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, shares how children impacted by the bombing reacted to the trauma.

Following the bombing, psychologists like Dr. Gurwitch began to call attention to the need to help children process their feelings and fears. As a result, the Memorial launched programs designed to help young people understand the senselessness of violence and to employ non-violent resolutions to conflicts.