When the bombing occurred my son was 16 months old so what I remember most about the day (and especially the night) of the bombing was sitting by the TV. and praying and crying for the children. I remember the images of the little girl Bailey being carried out by the fireman, I can still picture that in my mind. I still can't help crying when I think about those babies and their families. For me, the saddest part of the whole thing was the children, they were so innocent and they never had a chance.
Jacquie Gilmore
jgilmore@mail.nrgn.com
My name is Peter Binazeski and I was the Public Information Officer for the Oklahoma County Emergency Management Office during the Oklahoma City bombing. I cannot begin to describe to you what my feelings are looking back one year ago. I can recall quite vividly the night after the bombing. I remember standing on the corner of Broadway and 4th (the east side of the building) and watching body bag after body bag roll by me to the temporary morgue which was set up in the abandoned Oklahoma Publishing building (OPUBCO). I guess the most vivid memory I have is each day walking by a pile of debris which was located across the Sooner Post Office (Walker and 4th, NW side of the building). That pile of debris contained plastic balls, toys and a twisted red tricycle from the day care center. I can recall one time when I was returning from the "satellite farm" I stared at the federal building and that pile of debris and I broke down.
Despite the devastation and horror, there was a very warm feeling to Oklahoma City --one that I will never forget. I remember meeting a group of people from Weatherford, Oklahoma who collected about $4,000 worth of donations (batteries, flashlights) to help out the recovery efforts (and these people have little or no money). There was so much love and good feeling that whoever did bomb the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, they did not succeed in breaking the good people of Oklahoma.
I must complement you (CNN) on your professionalism and kindness during the bombing. At a time of crisis and sorrow your producers and reporters were nothing but excellent. I know my feelings are echoed by FEMA and other who were on the Joint Information Center staff. Personally, your producer from Chicago (I forget his name) who I worked with on a global live shot during the moment of silence (April 26) was extremely polite to everyone at the Myriad.
On Friday, April 19th please pause a moment at 10:02 am EDT (9:02 CDT) to remember those who lost their lives. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Peter Binazeski
Former Public Information Officer
Oklahoma County Emergency Management
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
(now in New York)
As a federal employee in Portland, Oregon I was shocked and dismayed when I first saw the images from Oklahoma City. I was also worried that the same thing could happen here. To this day, and probably forever, I will worry about working in a federal building. My heart and deepest sympathy still goes out to the families of the people that were killed or injured by that blast. I pray that something like that never again occurs in this country.
Craig F. Lofland
KaroakeKid@aol.com
Pulling Together
The most important lesson to draw from this is not that we are capable of doing great harm upon our fellow human beings, but that in times of tragedy, Americans can pull together to love and help one another. When I think of Oklahoma City, I remember the people who were killed, but I also think of those here in Maine whose tears of hurt and rage led to giving hearts when the time came to offer any assistance we could.
Peter Cook
Peter_Cook@voyager.umeres.maine.edu
I remember the bombing like it was yesterday. It was the day before my 24th birthday and I was at work standing in the hallway talking with some of my coworkers. I was telling them how I was dreading turning another year older. As I was finishing my conversation another coworker walked up to us and told us that a bomb went off in Oklahoma. At first I didn't believe him, because he is the type of person who is always joking around. But he explained to us that he heard on the radio that a bomb went off in a federal building in Oklahoma. We were all in a state of shock and fear. None of us knew anyone that worked in the federal building, but the thought of people being hurt and possibly killed just tugged at our hearts. There I was complaining about turning another year older when there were people in Oklahoma that were unknowingly not going to be able to celebrate their next birthday. Now on every April 20th I will always remember what tragic event that took place in Oklahoma city the previous day in 1995.
Catherine M. Newton
cmnewton@umich.edu
To all of those ordinary people, there on that most extraordinary day, who became the heroes of Oklahoma City...we salute you!
Remember the children...
Stephen Ritger
steve_ritger@sra.com
I can vividly remember coming home from school on April 19th at 2:45 P.M. MST, and learning by turning on the television there had been a terrible terrorist bombing inside United States borders. I was absolutely horrified. As all catastrophes start out, I didn't think it was a huge story that would be making headlines practically every day for the next year. I was absolutely amazed to discover upon returning home the next day, from President Clinton and Janet Reno, that they already had one suspect in custody and had sketches for the other.
Now, a year later, after hearing many of the stories of survivors and rescuers, I hope that the people who did this get exactly what they deserve: death. Notice that I didn't say Timothy McVeigh or Terry Nichols. Despite the incredible charges against them, I still believe in "innocence until proven guilty." We, as Americans, have no ethical right to say that they did this crime, or even treat them as they did, until it is proven that they are the ungodly perpetrators. I live in Denver, Colorado, and I will be following ever so closely their trial in Denver District Federal Court over the next year.
Jonathan E. Murray
jon_e._murray@shhs1.ccsd.k12.co.us
My heart goes out to all of the victims of the bombing and my gratitude to the people involved in the rescue attempts. These people are true Americans.
Adam Smith
smithad@sqruhs.ruhs.uwm.edu
Nothing can be more horrific than losing a loved one in such a terrible way. I don't know how the families of the victims have been able to go on. I don't know if I could be as strong. The pictures of these sad people facing life's most awful challenge will remain with us for a long time. They are doing an heroic deed just getting up every day. I admire them and I have prayed for them. Their loss can serve to remind all of us how lucky we are. And as we tuck our own children into bed each night, we must remember how fragile life is, and how important it is to treat each other well. Oklahoma citizens showed us the true meaning of loving one's neighbor. I just feel so sorry for those people. I just feel so sorry for them.
Donna Davis
donna@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
As a firefighter, who attended the 1985 Arrow Air disaster in Gander, Newfoundland, a continent away from Oklahoma, I stood mute as the initial reports from the media alerted the world to the tragedy and felt an empathy with the rescuers, that those outside our profession cannot truly comprehend. The tasks performed by these heroes is essentially the same worldwide and we all share the pain of loss as well as the limited joys of success in such an operation. To all of the firefighters, police officers, emergency medical staff and rescuers from across the United States of America, one neighbor from Canada stands in salute to your efforts. May peace be with you and those who perished on this anniversary, your work here is done.
Rod Clarke
firerc@newcomm.net
I don't believe that I can ever forget turning on the TV that morning and watching in disbelief at what I was seeing. I suppose it was a wake-up call to us all, that something this awful could happen in our country. Surely there must be a more civil way of expressing of dislike of our government and the way it works. Surely it can't be to destroy innocent lives of our brothers and sisters. We must learn to live peacefully together & to love one another. It may seem like a dream to feel this will ever happen, but it must if we are to survive as a people.
My heart and soul I give to those families that suffered these losses that day in Oklahoma City. In those lost young lives there may have been that leader, that just might have brought us together in the future. Now we must work hard to ensure that something this horrible can never happen again.
To all of you in Oklahoma City, be strong. Your strength is in numbers. Stand together, stand tall, and stand proud, for you are brothers and sisters in America. No matter how hard warped minds try, they can never defeat you!
God bless & prayers,
Joel P. Brown
Evensville, TN.
joel18@ix.netcom.com
We also cried for the victims and the families. When the tears dried, we prayed to the one God and we are still praying today. Our deepest hope is that your wounds of pain and anger will heal.
Christo....
Barbados
Christo@caribnet.net
We in this part of the world (Kuwait) cannot feel the grief which the Americans felt on this tragic day. After a year we only can say that this incident has provided them courage through the difficult times in life.
Nauman Uddin Shaikh
nomee@compuserve.com
I live in a quiet peaceful town in southern British Columbia, Canada. My heart goes out to all the people who have been affected by this awful tragedy. My prayers will be with all of them on this anniversary which we all silently wished we didn't have to remember.
Andree Smith
maboivin@netshop.net
Your families and their loved ones will be in my prayers to help you through this difficult anniversary of your loss.
Barbara Coleman
barbara_coleman@nti-op.ccmail.compuserve.com
I think it is sad commentary of our time that anyone, American or otherwise, would want to harm the lives of so many others. The perpetrator(s) did not know the people he (they) hurt, he (they) do not live with the suffering that those people who were guilty of nothing more than attending their jobs; or attending day care, felt, and still feel. I am sure that those who were the victims; the people in the building, and those who loved them, will never forget.
Robert C. Hoitt
robhoitt@tiac.com
Today (4/9/96) on my way to work I saw a terrible accident involving little children. When I saw those poor children crying and hurt, I had such a flashback of all those children at the Oklahoma City bombing that I started crying so bad, I had to pull over because I couldn't see where I was going. I thought about their families and what they must be going through now, a one year anniversary coming up and the start of the trial in Denver. This is a very trying time (still) for everyone. God bless all of those little angels in heaven.
Patricia Eland
pme2@po.cwru.edu
I would like to express my condolences concerning the terrible Oklahoma tragedy and I would like to say that I offer my sympathy regarding this situation. It is very unfortunate that this had to take place especially in an area such as Oklahoma. Small cities where there is not very much crime can also be prime targets for violence. It does not discriminate in terms of regions. It is one of those things that shows that anything can happen in a small town as well as a big populated city. I hope that everyone will come together and eventually come to grips with this trauma. I hope that Oklahoma will not be seriously "destroyed" because of this tragedy. I wish you hope and peace on earth.
I live in Oklahoma City. As a employee of the local CBS affiliate in OKC, I was deeply involved in the events of the bombing. What happened here can happen anywhere. That's the price we pay for living in a free society. I can't live in fear of what might happen and I won't let a few disturbed people dictate what I can do and where I may go. The way the citizens of my state responded in the face of such tragedy was one of the most inspirational events of my life. The worst in the hearts of few people brought out the best in thousands of my neighbors. I guess we're never really safe, but the compassion of the people in Oklahoma gives me security.
David Harper
dharper@media.com
Oklahoma City Tragedy, 1 year later:
The hurt, anger, rage, disbelief, and tears are still as strong today as yesterday. My families thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and the victims families.
God Bless All of You,
Bob Myers and Family
Robert Myers
rmyers2@ix.netcom.com
The bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City was a horrific event which senselessly ended many lives and affected many more forever. Unfortunately, there isn't any way to reverse the cataclysmic event of April 19, 1995. In recompense, we can only offer to bring those who were responsible to justice and promise never to forget those who were killed, wounded or otherwise had their lives disrupted by this event.
I sincerely hope that this nation never has to endure another tragedy as we did in Oklahoma City last year. These are violent times though and we live with fear and uncertainty. We can take comfort in one respect; when a section of our population is trapped within the clutches of fear, fellow citizens will rush with many helping hands to free the victims, to embrace the distraught, to rebuild from the destruction and to pray for a better tomorrow.
God bless America.
Rush Wickes
yes@vt.edu
To the courageous people of Oklahoma, especially those who have lost loved ones, we grieve with you. May our God forgive us for all the pain we cause one another. We pray that you are well on the road to being healed. As we pray for you, we ask you for your prayers, too. We are desperately in need of a spiritual awakening! Let us never forget your lost.
George Alexa
alexa@csgi.com
To the emergency services of this country who responded to this incident. Your work made me proud to be part of the fire service. You were truly professional in every aspect related to the incident. Thank you for your dedication and performance.
Charlie Johns
fire1051@aol.com
My prayers are with all those who lost family and friends in the Oklahoma massacre. When I first saw the scenes on CNN last year my heart stopped and memories of Beirut surfaced. I could not believe that such a barbaric act can occur in my new home, USA. As a witness to the many bombings in Beirut, Lebanon in the 1970's and 80's, I do understand the pain that you are experiencing. Try to forgive. It will surely give you a sense of healing.
Nicholas Shamma, MD
shamma1@jeflin.tju.edu
Everyone experiences pain in one form or another as we walk through this life. It's truly a journey of despair, anger, hope and healing. In fact, when the Oklahoma bomb devastated the lives of my fellow citizens a number of neighbor- states away from Maine, I vicariously felt their pain, their loss! I cried out to my God that strength and console would be given. Though healing takes a lifetime, I am grateful that as this new spring comes, my brothers and sisters in Oklahoma continue to grow in forgiveness, hope, and peace. God bless them even now!
Jerry Stone
jls@mail.camden.sad28.k12.me.us
On that awful day in April when the bomb went off in Oklahoma City, I was sitting in my living room watching TV. I was caught up in my own personal affairs. All of the sudden the news of the bombing flashed across the TV. At that moment I couldn't help but shed a tear for the people of Oklahoma because I knew that life for them would never be the same.
Paul Magrich
Conan@localnet.com
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