My sister, Kristin, lost her father, Pete DeMaster, in the OKC bombing in 1995. He was one of the 168 people who were killed that day by the exploding bomb left inside of the yellow Ryder truck. Every year my sister drives down from Stillwater, where she lives, and my mom goes with her to decorate Pete's chair at the Memorial in downtown OKC. They spend the morning paying honor to his and the others who were lost. For the past few years, the environment of the Memorial ceremony has changed. It isn't of sadness or lost, but of honor and healing. This year my sister asked if she could take Noah. I had no problem in him participating in something that means so much to his aunt Kristin and the rest of the family. He will grow up knowing about this event and why it is important we never forget. Unlikely most of my students who weren't even born, Noah will be educated enough to share Pete's story with others. So while I spent the day in the classroom teaching about this event, Noah actually participated hands on. Of course, Noah's information about the bombing is limited. He was told that he would help Auntie Kristin decorate a special chair in honor of her daddy who has gone to be with Jesus and nothing more. He enjoyed helping pin flowers on Pete's chair and sat quietly while all the 168 names were read aloud.
Once the ceremony concluded, Noah and Terry, the son of one of my sister's friends, played. Noah showed off his karate moves and spent time in the children's area leaving his mark by writing his name and drawing a rocket ship. When Noah is older, he will visit the museum, but right now, he's too young to understand such evil. I want to shelter my son for as long as I can from the evil in this world, but I know it's better to educate him and lead him in the ways of the Lord, so that he can make good decisions to fight against it. I'm encouraged, yet anxious, about raising a boy into a man who will make a name for the Lord and bring glory and honor to Him. God has a divine plan in not only the aftermath of the bombing, even 17 years, but also for my son. There is a time and a place for everything.
After the Memorial ceremony, they headed to the zoo. Noah was the tour guide. We are avid zoo goers, so this isn't out of the ordinary for him. He knows where everything is! He had a great time with his new friend, Terry.
