April 19: Oklahoma City Bombing

The second largest act of terrorism on American soil (the largest at the time), the Oklahoma City Bombing was carried out by militia movement sympathizers on April 19, 1995. The target was the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The attack killed 168 people (including 6 children), injured 680 people, and caused at least $652 million dollars in damage. The explosion destroyed or damaged 324 buildings and measured a 3.0 on the Richter scale. It was heard and felt 55 miles away.

A memorial now takes the space where the

explosion took place. In the parking lot across

from the Murrah Building, there was a lone

American elm tree. In the explosion, it was badly damaged and initially it was not thought to have survived. However, a year later, it began to bloom. It is now known as the Survivor Tree and is one of the main features of the memorial. Around the base of the tree are the words, "The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us."

This links to a video by Garth Brooks called The Change.

This heart
Still believes
The love and mercy still exist
While all the hatred rage and so many say
That love is all but pointless in madness such as this
It's like trying to stop a fire
With the moisture from a kiss

And I hear them saying you'll never change things
And no matter what you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so this world will know
That it will not change me