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Acts of remembrance, large or small, are tributes to the deceased, celebrating lives that have touched us while expressing grief over our loss and honoring their place in our ongoing life. Through these acts, we preserve the identities of the deceased individual as wife, father, child, grandparent, loyal friend, musician, writer (Unruh, 1983). Some acts of remembrance also reflect the sentiments of the local community, the entire nation, and sometimes even the international community in which the deaths are acknowledged and mourned. Acts of remembrance can be public as well as personal and private. Some are simple and others are elaborate, often reflecting the social status and position held by the individual. Some are commonly recognized forms embedded in cultural traditions, while others take idiosyncratic forms chosen by individuals and families.
FORMAL AND INFORMAL MEMORIALS
Many memorials remind us of our historical and social-political heritage, recognize the achievements of public figures and their service, and remember the victims of national tragedies. Lincoln, Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., and those who died in military conflicts and other catastrophic events, such as the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, and the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, are examples. Statues symbolic of the image of the events or in the likeness of beloved people and animals also adorn parks and memorial sites. National cemeteries and the Tomb of the Unknowns call our attention to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Memorial museums record such horrific historical events as the Holocaust. Many highways, parks, stadiums, and buildings are named after deceased individuals in recognition of their contributions to society.
Unlike many other memorials erected in honor of individuals who made contributions to society or sacrifices by the deceased for a cause, the Oklahoma City National Memorial was built to memorialize innocent victims of domestic terrorism. The memorial features 168 empty chairs made of bronze and stone; each of their glass bases is etched with the name of a victim. Smaller chairs represent children. An American elm, the only tree that survived the bombing, "stands as a profound symbol of human resilience" (Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust, 2002). The innovative memorial is the result of extensive participation by the local community. The memorial...