Thousands Flock To OKC National Memorial And Museum

As crowds packed the 20th anniversary ceremony, thousands more flocked to the memorial and museum throughout the day to pay their respects.

On a sunny Sunday, the hottest ticket in town was to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Crowds wrapped around the building, some even waited hours, as on every April 19, admission is free.

"We talked about it in my class, so I learned about the building and all the people hurt,” said 11-year-old Hailey Kennett.

The Kennett family is from Arizona, but now lives in Edmond and had never been to the memorial.

"I was nine when it happened, so I knew it was about time for me to bring my kids, and it's very emotional for them,” Stephanie Kennett.

The family of Jamie Fialkowski Genzer wore T-shirts with her picture in her honor. She was a loan officer for the federal employee's credit union, who was having a meeting with her boss when she died in the bombing inside the Murrah Federal building at 32 years old.

"We want to show everybody that we still remember her and will keep her memory alive, especially with having young kids ourselves. I want them to know who their Mimi was," said Krista Doll, daughter of Jamie Genzer.

One by one, scores of people got a heartfelt eyeful of all that encountered on April 19, 1995.

"A little overwhelming you know, because even though I've had it nice, I had my daughter, but still on the other hand it's sad, and I don't see how somebody could've done this tragedy,” said Rona Koehler on her first to the museum.

Some traveled from out of state just to show that they too will never forget the lives lost.

“It's bittersweet. It's happy that all these people came out and turned out for the anniversary, but it's sad because it happened in the first place,” said Antonio Sanchez Jr. of Kansas City, Mo.

“That's why we're here, but we'll walk away knowing that there are a lot of people who care.”

It was so packed on Sunday that many people said they're planning to come back to the museum throughout the week to still commemorate the anniversary.