Oklahoma Christian University hosts groundbreaking ceremony for its Survivor Tree Memorial Plaza

Rendering of Oklahoma Christian University’s Survivor Tree Memorial Plaza

On April 19, 2024, Oklahoma Christian University (OC) hosted a groundbreaking
ceremony for the university’s Survivor Tree Memorial Plaza.
At the southwest corner of OC’s Mabee Learning Center, two special trees stand side-
by-side – one grown from a seedling from the Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City
National Memorial and Museum, and one grown from a cutting from the tree that
survived the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
The two trees offer an important connection between the two tragedies that impacted so
many.
On the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, leaders broke ground on OC’s
Memorial Plaza and discussed the significance of the trees and how the Plaza will give
community members a permanent space to reflect, remember and heal.
Speakers for the ceremony included Oklahoma Christian University Chancellor John
deSteiguer, Susan Walton, survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing and Ron Vega, 9/11
recovery worker, Recovery Project executive for the NYC Dept. of Design and
Construction, among others.
Learn more about the groundbreaking of OC’s Survivor Tree Memorial Plaza here.