The Anniversary of the
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Bombing
On April 19, 1995, The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the target of the Oklahoma City Bombing.
At least 168 children, women, and men were killed.
Between 1995 and 2000, the Oklahoma City National Memorial was constructed in place of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Each year a memorial service is held on April 19 that includes a 168-second moment of silence, a public reading of the victims' names, and flying of the United States and Oklahoma flags at half-staff.
About the Building
The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a federal government complex that once stood at 200 NW 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City. The building was designed by Wendell Locke and built in 1976 & 1977.
The building was named for Oklahoma Native and Federal Judge, Alfred P. Murrah; an accomplished and well-respected federal judge who was the final serving appointee of President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he passed away in 1975.
Construction was completed in 1977 and by 1995 the building housed the offices of a multitude of agencies; including the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the D.E.A., United States military recruiting, A.T.F, and America's Kids — a children's daycare.
On the morning of the attack, the building was occupied by approximately 646 people.
About the Attack
The bombing occurred on April 19, 1995 after a white male and an accomplice parked a mover's truck loaded with explosive materials in front of the building.
At 9:02 a.m., the explosives were detonated.
The north face of the A.P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed by the blast, accounting for about one-third of the entire structure, and a crater 30 feet wide and eight feet deep was created on 5th Street.
324 buildings within a four-block radius were damaged, including deadly shattered glass in 258 of them.
86 vehicles were destroyed or burned.
The blast could be heard or felt as much as 55 miles away.
In the Aftermath
More than 1,800 calls to 9-1-1 were recorded in response to the bombing. Rescuers were organized within minutes and the National Guard was in place within the hour.
The building's final demolition occurred on May 23, with cleanup lasting several days after that.
A replacement building was sought almost immediately following the attack, and is now located on the corner north and west of the original site.
The new building is designed to resist future attacks.
Honoring the Lives We Lost
On October 9, 1997, the Oklahoma National Memorial Act was signed by then-President Bill Clinton. As a result, The Oklahoma City National Memorial was created and eventually dedicated on April 19, 2000. The memorial is situated on the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah building and is devoted to those who perished, the rescuers, the families, and all others affected by the attack.
The memorial is an exercise in introspection for those who visit, gradually marking the passage of time from 9:01 a.m. to 9:03 a.m. as visitors move through the exhibition elements. The intent of the memorial is best conveyed by the passage inscribed at the outer gate —
"We come here to remember Those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity."
While more that 800 tons of debris were carried away from the original site during the cleanup efforts, some of the original structure remains, including the original flagpole.
In remembrance of the lives lost as a result of the Oklahoma City Bombing, a memorial service is held each year on April 19.
The service includes a 168-second moment of silence to honor the 168 dead, and a public reading of the names of those who perished.
Additionally, United States flags and Oklahoma flags are directed to be flown at half-staff (or with a black ribbon for flags that are unable to be lowered) from sunrise until sunset, also in memory of those who perished.
For the Survivors and For the Families
On April 19, 1995, The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was the target of the Oklahoma City Bombing.
At least 168 children, women, and men were killed.
Countless lives were changed forever.
The Oklahoma City Memorial stands charged with helping to promote peace and serenity; not only in response to this tragedy, but also in promoting temperance and the prevention of future tragedies.
At 9:02 on April 19, please participate in the moment of silence, hear the victims' names, and join in lowering the American flag and accompanying flags to half-staff (or place a black ribbon on your stationary American flag) from sunrise until sunset.
In referencing the event, former President George W. Bush once remarked, "For the survivors of the crime and for the families of the dead the pain goes on." Only our actions can make it so that their pain is not felt completely in vain.
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Have a great day, from your friends at LIBERTY FLAGS, The American Wave®.
