Teddy Bear from 9/11 Red Cross Volunteer

2012

After bears were distributed by Oklahoma First Lady Cathy Keating during a prayer service held on April 23, 1995, teddy bears have become a symbol of the response to the bombing. It is no surprise then to see bears like this one left on the Fence along with other comforting items.

This bear was left with a note from a 9/11 Red Cross Volunteer thanking Oklahoma City for the bears Oklahoma sent after the World Trade Center attacks. The note described the stuffed animals as “… a comfort that will stay in my heart forever.” Items like this remind us of the Red Cross Family Assistance Center set up after the bombing as a central hub for families, and the ties that bind us all. The bears were sent to Oklahoma City by Illinois Governor Jim and First Lady Brenda Edgar.