OKC Memorial

This weekend was a whirlwind of a trip. Saturday Anna and I busted out of town and headed to Oklahoma City to run the 15th annual OKC Memorial Run. The whole trip was amazing. The half was the most fun I have ever had running. I even felt like I could have kept going. OKC, you did not disappoint. The people, atmosphere and energy were epic.
 I plan to talk more about the race soon but today I wanted to share about the most impactful part of our time in OKC. 
The memorial.

 We first passed through here about 5:30 a.m. it was cold, it was dark and it was beautiful. So many people gathered, praying, sitting. We immediately made plans to go back later so we could take it all in, in the day light.

The survivor tree. 

I have wanted to see this tree for several years and there I was standing right in front of it.

Pictures fail to do it justice. It was the most beautiful tree I have ever seen.

From the tree you can overlook the memorial.

The two walls, one at each end, say 9:01 & 9:03. Everything between them reflects what happened at 9:02 on April 19th 1995.

After looking and talking a bit we decided to go walk around a bit closer. 

I was not prepared for the emotions that would soon follow. 
168 chairs, the smaller ones for the children, each with a name of someones parent, wife, child, grandparent. My eyes filed with tears as we walked around. Every chair had something on it. Coins, race medals, bibs, flowers. Nobody was forgotten.

Oklahoma City follow it's motto.

Run To Remember.

I feel so privileged that we got to be a part of that.