It is a beautiful Spring day here in Oklahoma City, not unlike the day fifteen years ago when the city was forever changed. Timothy McVeigh parked a truck loaded with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and at 9:02 am, the truck exploded, killing 168 people, including 19 children. Today survivors, rescuers and relatives of the victims gathered to remember those who died. They began a memorial service with 168 seconds of silence, one for each victim. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett talked about the choices made after the bombing, saying “We have chosen strength. We have chose optimism. We have chosen freedom.”
Former Governor Frank Keating, current Governor Brad Henry and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke. The ceremony ended with survivors and relatives of victims reading each name of the 168 who died.
After the ceremony, people stayed, giving one another hugs and crying. They also visited the individual chairs, each representing a victim who died in the bombing. The chairs are placed near where each person was found.
For us, we may not think about the Oklahoma City bombing until anniversaries like this one. But for those who lost loved ones fifteen years ago and for those who still wear its scars, the bombing is never far from their minds.