Mary Fallin: “Fifteen years ago next Monday, America was shocked and saddened by a murderous attack in our heartland. 168 Oklahomans…”

“Fifteen years ago next Monday, America was shocked and saddened by a murderous attack in our heartland. 168 Oklahomans died and hundreds others injured when a homegrown terrorist detonated a bomb outside the Oklahoma City Federal Building. Today I offer a resolution to commemorate that tragedy, but it is also a resolution of hope. On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City, the State of Oklahoma and our Nation saw the face of evil. But rather than cower in fear we came together. From the very first moments after the blast, neighbors rushed forward to help neighbors. They lined up around the block to give blood. They became volunteer rescuers--and one, a nurse, gave her life in that effort. As our wounds began to heal, we vowed always to remember those we lost, those who were injured and those who were changed forever. Five years after the bombing, in 2000, a beautiful and peaceful outdoor memorial was dedicated on the same block that was once marked by blood and tears. That memorial includes 168 empty chairs in memory of those who died-- 19 of them children. It contains a reflecting pool and a tough old tree that survived the blast. We call it the Survivor Tree, and it is the emblem of our memorial. A year later, we added a museum where visitors come each day to learn more about the bombing, and to absorb the lesson that in our free Nation, free speech is honorable, but violence is not. Those are the physical symbols of hope. There are others just as vital.…”