Today, April 19, marks the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. As you might expect there was a great ceremony in Oklahoma City this morning with President Bill Clinton in attendance as well as Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and the current FBI director. I know this nation has never forgotten the events of that day and holds the utmost respect for the citizens of Oklahoma City for showing this nation what it truly means to live by the "Oklahoma Standard". I also know that this nation has a fondness for the City of Oklahoma City because of how we all came together on that fateful day. We may joke on this forum that Oklahoma City is full of nobodies, but I know for a fact that the majority of the United States does not think negative about Oklahoma City. They realize how much and how fast we've grown because of our heart and our standard. Everybody with half a brain realizes that we are so much more than an old, dusty cow town stuck in the 1930's. Oklahoma City will never go away. We are some of the strongest group of people you will ever find.
Time flies. 20 years! I was so focused on the 126th birthday of our favorite Austrian that I'd forgotten to remember Alfred P. Murrah, but now that you mention it, I remember it well. Jane Trotter was a colleague from OKC. She was really, really butch. Anyway, I can remember half that building standing, wall torn off, rebar sticking out, fibers of paper fluttering in the breeze, Tim McVeigh's serious, angular mug telecast across a shocked nation.
Well, I'll raise a glass to it, and as it happens I have a glass nearby. Cheers my oakie friend. Here's to the spirit of the Okalahoman!
