The nation joins Oklahomans in remembering the 10th anniversary of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building.
Vice President Dick Cheney and former President Bill Clinton, who flew here to provide comfort days after the attack that
left 168 dead and injured 850, will be among the speakers in a
private ceremony for survivors and victims' families and rescue
workers at the First United Methodist Church, just east of the
Oklahoma City National Memorial.
After the service, which should last about 90 minutes, participants will walk across the street to the memorial for a time for
reflection and remembrance.
The memorial, dedicated five years ago today, received a
boost Monday when Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation establishing a $5 million endowment for the memorial site.
"It truly is appropriate that on the eve of the 10th anniversary
of the most horrific event in our state's history, we will sign legislation that will ensure the survival and continued operations of
the Oklahoma City National Memorial, Henry said. "These
grounds ... are indeed hallowed grounds. This is a holy place a place for people across the state and across this nation and
frankly all across this world to come and reflect and hopefully
find a renewed fervor for peace in the world.
The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate
unanimously, matches a $5 million federal grant the memorial
would have lost if state money were not appropriated.
The state money will come from the 2006 fiscal year's special
cash appropriations, state Finance Director Scott Meacham said.
The memorial also is wrapping up a private fund-raising drive,
which is about $500,000 short of its $5 million goal, said Frank
Hill, Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation chairman.
The memorial already has $3 million in its endowment fund,
so the additional money plus the federal and state grants will
provide a total endowment of $18 million, he said.
"Today, remarkably on the eve of our 10th anniversary, we
have secured the financial future of the Oklahoma City National
Memorial, Hill said.
Henry signed the bill as the measure's authors, Sen. Bernest
Cain, D-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Pro Tempore Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, sat on either side of him.
Winchester's sister, agriculture veterinarian Margaret
"Peggy Clark, was killed in the bombing.
"We've worked hard on this, Winchester said of the legislation. "We missed out a year ago and fortunately they (Congress) made the appropriation again and we have literally
worked since last April to ensure that this happened this year.
Cain said the memorial is a "monument for peace and a monument for hope in the future.
U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Warr Acres, who worked on getting the federal funding, was among those in the crowd who
watched the ceremony, which took place by the memorial's Survivor Tree, an American elm that withstood the blast's impact.
Istook said some mistakenly believe the memorial gets annual federal appropriations.
Henry called Monday's bill signing a moving experience.
"Just to be here on the site of that horrific bomb 10 years
later with all of the changes that have occurred since then, but
still remembering those who died, 168 Oklahomans, and those
whose lives were changed forever, he said.
"And being very hopeful for the future, as we look forward
and hope that people all around the world will learn from our
experience and from the compassion and goodness and generosity that Oklahomans and frankly the rest of the world exhibited following the Murrah Building bombing.
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