Memorials

To be honest, I did not know a whole lot about the Oklahoma City bombing before reading this article. I knew that there was a bombing, but I had never really gone in depth to learn more about it. Therefore, I found this article intriguing. I always find memorials to be beautiful works of art. Even though I have never lived through such a tragedy and have no connection to the tragedies, I think the personal aspect of a memorial makes you feel the same emotions of those who were affected by the event.

I visited Washington D.C. quite a few years ago, but the feeling you get when you are visiting these monuments stays with you. Therefore, I do feel like it was a smart decision for the Oklahoma City memorial planners to include the families of those killed in the bombing. No one fully understands that feeling more than those people, therefore, only they can truly describe the feeling the monument should have. The article said that some people wanted to just leave the debris as a reminder of the incident. I am so glad they decided not to go with this idea. To me, that would only continually remind people of the destruction. A memorial is supposed to help us remember, but also help us to overcome the tragedy of the event. Monuments are not meant to make us sad, they are meant for us to feel empathy toward those fallen, but hope for the future of those they left behind.

The image I chose is the memorial of The Forgotten Soldier in Washington D.C. I think that this monument is so effective for several reasons. It does not just represent one solider, it represents all of the soldiers who risk their lives for us without even knowing who we are. The guard to me represents the fact that while they are guarding us, we are still and forever guarding them as fellow citizens. If you ever have the chance to go see the changing of the guards, I highly recommend you go because it is an experience in itself. It is one of the most powerful displays of respect towards our soldiers.