Three decades after the tragic bombing of a federal building in downtown Oklahoma City, community members, leaders, and survivors gathered on Saturday to honor the 168 lives lost and reflect on the lasting impact of the event.
The attack on April 19, 1995, remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. A truck bomb detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building claimed the lives of adults and children, injured hundreds more, and left a lasting mark on the city and the nation.
Former President Bill Clinton, who held office at the time of the bombing, spoke at the remembrance ceremony held near the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Now 78, he recalled his first visit to the city in the aftermath of the attack and reflected on the strength and resilience shown by the community.
“I remember coming here and saying, ‘You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. You have certainly not lost America, and we will be with you for as many tomorrows as it takes,’” he said, expressing a continued commitment to stand with those affected.
Clinton also commented on the importance of unity and warned against the dangers of extreme division, noting how such conditions can contribute to violence. He referenced the “Oklahoma Standard”—a term used to describe the city’s response to the tragedy through service, kindness, and compassion—and encouraged Americans to learn from that example.
The ceremony included other key figures who were in office at the time, including former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating and former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick. Family members of victims read the names of those who died, a tradition held each year. Due to rain, the event was moved indoors from its original outdoor location at the memorial site.
After the ceremony, attendees participated in a solemn walk to the memorial grounds, led by a procession of bagpipers from the city’s fire department. The outdoor memorial features 168 chairs made of glass and bronze, each inscribed with the name of a person who died. Nineteen of the chairs are child-sized, honoring the youngest victims.
Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, said that part of the institution’s mission is to educate future generations about the tragedy and its consequences. “We knew that one day we’d be speaking to people who weren’t alive at the time. Today, that includes not just children, but their teachers as well,” she said.
The anniversary served as both a time for remembrance and a call to preserve the values of compassion and unity that emerged in the wake of the tragedy.
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