Oklahoma City bombing victims remembered ten years later

Current and former national leaders gathered in Oklahoma City Tuesday to honor the 168 victims of the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building 10 years ago.

Most of the victims were government employees; 19 children at a day care center in the building were also killed.

"This morning, we recall an event that changed this community forever and profoundly touched the entire nation," said Vice President Dick Cheney. "That spring morning ten years ago is still deeply etched in our memory …. Federal offices were opening, men and women were sitting down to work, children were sitting down to breakfast."

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, who served in the Army together during the first Gulf War, were convicted for detonating a Ryder truck rigged with explosives in front of the Murrah building. McVeigh was executed in 2001 and Nichols is serving a life sentence in prison.

Cheney praised the resilience of the citizens of Oklahoma City and the leadership of former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and former President Bill Clinton-both of whom were in office at the time of the attack.

Cheney also linked the bombing to the Sept. 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, as well as the wider fight against terrorism. He referred to a group of New York rescue workers who responded to the Oklahoma City tragedy, "men whose own lives would end on another day of terror."

The theme of the worldwide fight against terrorists-and the triumph of good over evil-was repeated by several speakers throughout the day, including Democratic Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., and Republican Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.

"We hold hands with the world in the fight against terror," said Cornett, who talked about the repairs and refurbishment the city has experienced. "We are especially grateful to the federal government for what they have done … the emotional scars [were] addressed partially by the new federal building which stands just a block away."

Henry said the bombing "proved the character of America" and foretold the reaction of Americans to the Sept. 11 attacks.

John Gage, American Federation of Government Employees president, also participated. "We're here just to take part in the event and to remember our fellow union members and federal employees who suffered so much that day," he said. "Virtually any of our installations were open to that sort of attack… it happened here of all places."

In his speech, Cheney quoted a survivor of the attack who spoke of the need for the memorial and for the anniversary tribute.

"We cannot ever forget," Cheney said. "We don't even want to forget."