Shortly after the April 19, 1995, bombing
of the Alfred P. Murrah S Federal Building in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, a fund was created for the establishment of a
memorial garden at the Social Security Administration's
(SSA) national headquarters in Baltimore to honor the SSA
victims who died in the explosion. A committee of management,
union, headquarters and field employees, including a survivor
of the blast, helped design this symbolic display, which
captures the agency's sense of loss.
The centerpiece of the garden is a redbud tree, the official
state tree of Oklahoma. The tree was planted during a ceremony
held on May 19, 1995--exactly one month after the Oklahoma
City tragedy. The redbud is encircled by Indian Blanket,
the Oklahoma state wildflower. The garden walkway is made
up of 16 sections, each representing an SSA victim who died
in the bombing. A pond, featuring a water recirculation
system, sits behind a large slab of camelian stone that
was recovered from the ruins of the Murrah Building.
Four kidney-shaped islands form the perimeter of the garden
area, featuring white azaleas, crepe myrtle, tulips and
pansies. The white of the azaleas and the green foliage
of the islands symbolize the Oklahoma state colors. Black-eyed
Susans, the state flower of Maryland, represent the link
between the employees in headquarters and the employees
in Oklahoma City.
The memorial garden area is wheelchair accessible, and many
of the garden's features have been created with the needs
of the physically challenged in mind. The recirculating
pond and certain aromatic flowers and plants are provided
for the enjoyment of the blind and visually impaired.
The beautiful shrubs, trees and flowers of the SSA Memorial
Garden serve as a living monument to the dedicated and loyal
members of the SSA "family" who lost their lives
in this senseless act of violence.
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