10th Anniversary of Oklahoma City Bombing

Tomorrow is the 10th Anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. This home-grown tragedy has been understandably overshadowed by the horrific events of September 11, 2001. As massive as 9/11 was it doesn’t change the personal feelings about the Oklahoma City bombing. I haven’t lived in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years but when such an event happens in your hometown it sticks with you. On April 19, 1995 I had only been living in St. Louis for about four and a half years.

I remember that day well. A co-worker said he heard about a bombing in Oklahoma City and we quickly found a TV. Nobody knew what had happened, people were missing and rescue operations were just starting. National broadcasters were commenting on the face of the building being missing but I knew instantly looking at the images that a good chunk of the tower was missing.

While I don’t recall ever being in the building I driven down the street where Tim McVeigh parked the truck many times. I had been on the plaza on the South side of the building a number of times. I must admit I was never a fan of the building and plaza. Even the worst building doesn’t deserve such a fate. More important than the building were the 168 killed and the thousands more impacted by the bombing.

My uncle was getting ready to leave his house for a court case across the street. My cousin, his legal secretary, was home sick that day. Had she been well she would have been in the immediate area at the time. My parents knew a woman that had been their bank teller, she had just started her new job at the credit union. She was one of the 168 that perished.

My parents live about 5 miles away from the site but my mom says the house shook. She thought something exploded in their garage. Visiting the area a couple of months later I began to see the full impact. By the time I arrived the remains of the tower had been imploded. Driving into town it was weird seeing the whole in the skyline where the building once stood. The entire area was devastated.

In an instant what was once an urban section of downtown Oklahoma City became as bad as an urban renewal project – clearing blocks of buildings. Some buildings were able to be saved but many others were razed. On the 5th anniversary the OKC National Memorial was dedicated. My first visit to the memorial was on Christmas Eve 2000.

As memorials go this is one is moving. I cry every time I see it. As regular readers know, I am not fond of closing streets. The calm reflecting pool shown above is where the street was located. The street that 10 years ago was anything but calm. That is a powerful statement.

In the background on the left is the old YMCA building. A great modern building that I have loved since I was a child.

Ten years ago the YMCA immediately became abandoned as it was severely damaged by the bombing. The above picture is also from 12/24/2000. They were trying to find ways to save the building but a few years ago it was razed for a parking lot. I didn’t know any of the people that lost their lives 10 years ago but I did know this building and the area.

I feel the loss of the people, the buildings, the area and our innocence.

– Steve