Jan. 15—In its mission to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those whose lives were changed forever, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum will travel to all 77 counties across Oklahoma in a Journey of Hope and will be in McAlester on Thursday.
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.
McAlester High School students will experience the exhibit on Jan. 16, at 9 a.m. in the Lucy Smith Center gym at McAlester High School.
Organizers say these in-person visits provide an opportunity to take this exhibit beyond the walls of the museum and the memorial to all parts of the state.
At each stop, the Memorial Museum will share the 30th anniversary message, “A Day of Darkness — Years of Light” aimed at inspiring students, civic clubs, church groups, individuals and families to embody the Oklahoma Standard by showing up to serve, rising up to honor and stepping up to be kind.
Students are asked to sign pledge cards promising their own acts of service, honor and kindness. All McAlester 9th-12th grade students will attend this Journey of Hope program. This is a high-tech, high-touch museum experience and a chance to honor family members of those killed, survivors and first responders from the area and to thank legislators.
According to Lori Few, Public Relations Director for McAlester Public Schools, the program takes the form of a 55-minute assembly introducing students to the events and lessons of April 19, 1995 and will feature a first-person speaker and ending with a call to action to uphold the Oklahoma Standard.
Justice Steven Taylor will also be part of the program, according to Few.
This educational and civic programming is funded in a partnership with the State of Oklahoma through the Department of Agriculture.