Learning Goals Learning Goals

The students will understand the The students will understand the OKC bombing.OKC bombing.

OKC BombingOKC Bombing At 9:02 on Wednesday At 9:02 on Wednesday

morning, April 19, 1995 a morning, April 19, 1995 a homemade bomb inside a homemade bomb inside a rented Ryder truck parked in rented Ryder truck parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah front of the Alfred P. Murrah building had exploded, building had exploded, destroying the front half of the destroying the front half of the building, killing 168 people, building, killing 168 people, including nineteen children, including nineteen children, and injuring more than 800. and injuring more than 800.

The Murrah building housed The Murrah building housed most of the federal offices most of the federal offices assigned to Oklahoma City assigned to Oklahoma City and a daycare center for the and a daycare center for the children of federal workers children of federal workers and others in the area. It had and others in the area. It had been hit by a terrorist at tack, been hit by a terrorist at tack, something that people had something that people had thought would never happen thought would never happen in America’s heartland. in America’s heartland.

BombingBombing At 10:30 a.m. on that same day, At 10:30 a.m. on that same day,

Timothy McVeigh was stopped by Timothy McVeigh was stopped by highway patrolman Charlie highway patrolman Charlie Hanger on Interstate 35 near Hanger on Interstate 35 near Billings because his car had no Billings because his car had no license tag. The patrolman license tag. The patrolman discovered that McVeigh was discovered that McVeigh was carrying a gun. Shortly thereafter, carrying a gun. Shortly thereafter, McVeigh found himself in the McVeigh found himself in the Noble County jail. Within days, he Noble County jail. Within days, he was charged in the bombing was charged in the bombing deaths of the eight federal officers deaths of the eight federal officers who died in the attack. who died in the attack.

An extensive investigation ensued, An extensive investigation ensued, resulting in the arrest of Terry resulting in the arrest of Terry Nichols, a former army buddy of Nichols, a former army buddy of McVeigh. McVeigh.

McVeigh and Nichols apparently McVeigh and Nichols apparently believed that the American believed that the American government had gone too far in an government had gone too far in an incident in Waco, Texas, on April incident in Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1993. In an attempt to arrest 19, 1993. In an attempt to arrest cult leader David Koresh cult leader David Koresh

Bombing cont.Bombing cont. On June 2, 1997, a jury found On June 2, 1997, a jury found

McVeigh guilty of the deaths McVeigh guilty of the deaths of the eight federal officers of the eight federal officers who died in the bombing and who died in the bombing and three weapons or explosives three weapons or explosives counts. On June 13, he was counts. On June 13, he was sentenced to die by lethal sentenced to die by lethal injection. McVeigh was injection. McVeigh was executed at Terre Haute, executed at Terre Haute, Indiana on June 11, 2001.Indiana on June 11, 2001.

Terry Nichols was also found Terry Nichols was also found guilty; however, the jury could guilty; however, the jury could not agree on a sentence. not agree on a sentence. Judge Richard Matsch Judge Richard Matsch sentenced Nichols to life in sentenced Nichols to life in prison without parole. prison without parole.

The The Oklahoma City Oklahoma City National MemorialNational Memorial is an is an

outside place for outside place for remembering. remembering.

This Memorial remembers This Memorial remembers all who were changed all who were changed

forever on April 19, 1995.forever on April 19, 1995.

It stands It stands at at

the same the same place place

where the where the Murrah Murrah

Building Building once once

stood…stood…

■■ The Alfred Murrah The Alfred Murrah Federal Building was a Federal Building was a

United States Government United States Government office in Oklahoma City. office in Oklahoma City.

■■ It was the place of a It was the place of a bombing- bombing-

an act calledan act called “terrorism “terrorism.”.”

The Oklahoma City National The Oklahoma City National Memorial Memorial

was opened five years after was opened five years after the bombing the bombing

by President Bill Clinton.by President Bill Clinton.

What do its What do its

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS mean?mean?

Gates of TimeGates of Time

These two gates mark the entrances to the Memorial. They show the times when the events happened.

■ ■ The East Gate The East Gate represents 9:01 a.m. represents 9:01 a.m.

on April 19, before the on April 19, before the attack.attack.

■ ■ The West Gate The West Gate represents 9:03 a.m.-represents 9:03 a.m.-

the moment our state the moment our state was changed forever. was changed forever.

Reflecting PoolReflecting Pool

The pool is where the Murrah The pool is where the Murrah building building

once stood at 5th Street once stood at 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City.in downtown Oklahoma City.

Here, the water makes a Here, the water makes a quiet setting for quiet setting for

remembering the events of remembering the events of April 19th...April 19th...

Empty ChairsEmpty Chairs

The 168 chairs represent The 168 chairs represent the people who died here… the people who died here…

Some were Some were workers. workers.

Some were Some were visitors. visitors.

Some were Some were children.children.

The Survivor TreeThe Survivor Tree

The Survivor Tree is an old Elm The Survivor Tree is an old Elm tree. tree.

After the bombing, it was still After the bombing, it was still standing.standing.

Years later, it is a symbol of Years later, it is a symbol of the strength the strength

of our state and people.of our state and people.

Rescuers' OrchardRescuers' Orchard

Near the Survivor Tree are Near the Survivor Tree are rows of new trees. rows of new trees.

““To the courageous and To the courageous and caring caring

who responded from near who responded from near and far, and far,

we thank you, the we thank you, the rescuers and volunteers rescuers and volunteers

who helped.”who helped.”

A marker nearby reads:

The FenceThe Fence

A chain link fence was put up A chain link fence was put up after the attack.after the attack.

Soon, people began to Soon, people began to leave messages, pictures, leave messages, pictures,

flags, and gifts on the flags, and gifts on the fence… fence…

Thanks to the Thanks to the Oklahoma City National Oklahoma City National

Memorial, Memorial, we will not forget we will not forget

the events of April 19the events of April 19thth, , 1995.1995.

Chapter 25 Section 1 Quiz• 1.) On what date was the Oklahoma City

Bombing?• a.) April 19, 1995• b.) December 7, 1941• c.) July 4, 1976

• 2.) What building was bombed in the Oklahoma City bombing?

• a.) Murrah Building• b.) Penn Square Bank• c.) The Ford Center

• 3.) Who was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing?

• 4.) On what highway was this person traveling on when he got caught?

• a.) 1-40• b.) 1-35• c.) I-44

• 5.) In what town was this person placed in County jail after his arrest?

• a.) Stillwater• b.) Oklahoma City• c.) Perry

• 6.) What was this persons sentence?• a.) Life in prison with parole• b.) Life in prison without parole• c.) Death by lethal injection

• 7.) What other person was found guilty in the OKC bombing?

• 8.) What is the number one cash crop in Oklahoma?

• 9.) Which governor instituted the lottery?• a.) George Nigh• b.) Brad Henry• c.) Henry Bellmon

• 10.) What were the proceeds of the Lottery supposed to go towards?

•

Chapter 25 Section 1 Quiz• 1.) On what date was the Oklahoma City

Bombing?

• 2.) What building was bombed in the Oklahoma City bombing?

• 3.) Who was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing and what sentence did he get and how was that sentence carried out?

• 4.) Why was this person pulled over and why was he taken in and what town was he taken to?

• 5.) How many chairs are at the Memorial and what do they represent?

• 6.) Describe the East and West Walls that were built and their significance.

• 7.) What other person was found guilty in the OKC bombing?

• 8.) Describe the fence around the Memorial?

• 9.) Describe the Surviover tree?

• 10.) What is the purpose of the tree orchard that was planted?