Okla. City attack anniversary marked

[estranged4life]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18196001/

City reaches out to victims of Virginia shootings; Giuliani to address crowd

The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City is marking the 12th anniversary of the bombing that killed 168 people here by reaching out to victims of the Virginia Tech shootings and victims of violence everywhere.

Mourners gather each April 19 at the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building to observe the anniversary of the bombing, which injured hundreds.

Participants will observe 168 seconds of silence, followed by family members reading the names of their lost loved ones.

Organizers said attention also will focus on the killings of 32 people at Virginia Tech by a student who then killed himself.

“Violence obviously is happening,” said Nancy Coggins, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “We hope there are ways we can reach out to them and offer support. They will be in our minds and in our hearts.”

Coggins said the “fairly low-key” anniversary observance will be “a little more prominent” this year because former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was mayor during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, will address the crowd.

After the ceremony, Ron Norick, who was the mayor of Oklahoma City in 1995, and Giuliani, a Republican presidential candidate, will discuss how they led their cities through acts of terrorism during a symposium at the museum.

Massive bomb
In the federal building attack, a cargo truck packed with two tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil was detonated in front of the nine-story federal building on April 19, 1995.

Timothy McVeigh was apprehended less than two hours later. He was convicted of federal murder charges and was executed June 11, 2001. Terry Nichols, who met McVeigh in the Army, was convicted of federal and state bombing charges and is serving life prison sentences.

Another Army buddy, Michael Fortier, pleaded guilty to not telling authorities in advance about the bomb plot and agreed to testify against McVeigh and Nichols. Fortier was released from a federal prison in January 2006 after serving most of a 12-year sentence.

Prosecutors said the bombing was a twisted attempt to avenge the deaths of about 80 people in the government siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, exactly two years earlier.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[GypsySorcerer]

I'll be keeping the victims' loved ones in my thoughts today.

[Pisces Queen]

I will never forget the horrors of that day nor will I forget the heroes that gave everything to help pick up the pieces. I am an Oklahoma girl ~ and that day was a nightmare for me. I worked in Edmond. I went back home for Easter and was able too see the memorial and it was heart wrenching and overwhelming to say the least. May the survivors find peace and may the ones who passed RIP.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by Pisces Queen

I will never forget the horrors of that day nor will I forget the heroes that gave everything to help pick up the pieces. I am an Oklahoma girl ~ and that day was a nightmare for me. I worked in Edmond. I went back home for Easter and was able too see the memorial and it was heart wrenching and overwhelming to say the least. May the survivors find peace and may the ones who passed RIP.

will ever forget that day. I still remember it vividly, how such a beautiful morning was turned into a disaster. What was to have been a fun day (Rick and Brad at 100.5FM the KATT, were to have then Gov.Frank Keating on the air to declare a fictious state holiday of "Hamburger Day") ended in heartache.

I remember channel 4 (KFOR) Devin Skillen (I may have mispelt his last name - He's now a news anchor in Detroit) making a plea to school age children that "If your Mommy and Daddy worked in downtown at the Murrah Building, And they are not home, please try to remain calm and call your grandparents."

The hardest part was the local coverage, since all the TV stations I receive are OKC based, what I saw and heard that day still shocks me moreso than even 911 did. That coverage continued 24/7 uninterrupted until the wreckage of the Murrah Building was imploded, so that the bodies of the last 2 remaining victims, trapped/buried inside could at least be recovered and returned to their loved ones.

During the ceremonies today the OKC community mentioned the students of the massacre at Virginia Tech, and that the family members of those lost on April 19,1995 can understand their grief and sorrow and that OKC sends its thoughts and prayers to those families.

What was cool today is that pop-star George Michael, donated the piano that John Lennon composed the song "Imagine" on, to the OKC National Museum...How cool is that???

[Pisces Queen]

That brought tears to my eyes. I have been numb this week ~ even after watching the Prime Time special about Virginia I didn't cry. Which for me is weird ~ I have been on auto pilot this week, but reading that last line about the piano just did it. I released all my emotions. I am at loss to understand the state of the world. I look at my teenagers and I am scared for them and their future. But we can't stop living ~ and can't live in fear. One day at a time. I still can't believe it's been 12 years. So sad. So freaking sad. OKC is my birth city and so close to my heart. My thoughts are with the families and the city that didn’t deserve this. I can’t fathom what the families that lost their children in Virginia are going thru. What’s the world coming too?

[gretchen]

There is so much pain and sadness, but the ones who have perished are now beautiful angelic beings, I believe. The world's humanity has seemingly fallen into some sort of deep chasm that is slowly but surely widening. All we can do is be kind to each other and love with our whole hearts. Be with your loved ones and send love to those who are hurting and struggling.