Day 7 June 4

Blog post backup

As we meet again,
We left Shamrock, Texas around 7 a.m. on our way towards Oklahoma City. In this part of the country Route 66 is poorly marked except in a few towns.  Disconnected parts often run along the Interstate serving as access roads to ranches and farms that would otherwise be cut off without access since Interstate on and off ramps are few and far between.  You can spot old sections made of the original concrete rather than the blacktop used in more recent roads.

 We stopped in Oklahoma, City around 9:30 at the Oklahoma City Memorial, a very moving and incredible monument to those who died in the terrorist bombing of the Murrow Federal Building. The area was somber and quiet this Saturday morning and we saw fences with gifts left to memorialize the victims. Across the street was a large statue of Jesus facing away from the tragedy weeping with the biblical inscription, "Jesus Wept." Inside, there are 168 chair-like monuments representing those who were killed. The chairs are in the same configuration as the building was before the bombing. You can also see marks on other parts of the building that did not collapse and are now incorporated into the memorial. In front of the chairs is a reflecting pool going the length of the street where the truck was parked. Still an unbelivable and sad event.

We drove on past Tulsa and then through Joplin, Missouri. As we drove, there was a sign telling volunteers where to exit the interstate. A couple of miles further we saw some of the results of the tornado that had touched ground near the Interstate and then crossed it spreading destruction. Another sad sight for today.

Tonight we rest in Springfield, Missouri and all around us the rolling countryside is green, beautiful and covered with trees.

Keep smiling until then,
Linda, Richard, and Ella Ruth