Singer and actress Reba McEntire paid homage to the lives lost in the 'horrific' tragedy that occurred exactly 30 years ago in Oklahoma. She shared an Instagram post on Saturday, April 19, to honor the 'act of terrorism' from three decades ago.
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Reba McEntire Pays Tribute To Lives Lost In 'Horrific' Oklahoma Bombing
"30 years ago today, a horrific act of terrorism occurred in Oklahoma City in our great home state of Oklahoma," wrote Reba. "Today, we planted a seedling from The Survivor Tree, the only tree that survived the tragedy."
The country singer shared a photo of herself and her boyfriend, Rex Linn, posing beside the little sapling. "We planted this tree in honor of those 168 precious lives lost that day, and as a symbol of hope for the future," she continued.
This tragedy hits close to home for both of these Oklahoma natives. According to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, The Survivor Tree is an elm tree that survived a bomb blast. They deemed this as "one of the worst terrorist attacks on American Soil."
The bombing occurred on April 19, 1995, when anti-government extremists killed 168 people and injured 684. Terrorists Timothy McVeigh and his accomplice Terry Nichols were the masterminds behind the attack.
The blast destroyed hundreds of buildings and decimated a third of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. To this day, it remains the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in American history.
Planted in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City, this tree symbolizes resilience. It was nearly cut down so investigators could recover evidence of the bomb that landed in its branches.
The Survivor Tree continues to provide wide shade for people as it did before the bombing. Now they recognize it as a symbol of "hope and guidance."
With the Survivor Tree living strongly since that bombing, it must have been an honor for Reba to plant one of its seedlings.
Reba has always been someone who pays tribute to tragedies such as this one. Just last month, the singer paid tribute to the disaster that hits even closer to home for her. Reba shared a message on Instagram on March 16, remembering the devastating plane crash that killed seven of her band members in 1991.
"Always in our minds, thoughts and prayers no matter how many years have passed," she wrote. "Love and miss you all."
