WHEREAS, on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m., a terrorist detonated a truck bomb at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City; and

WHEREAS, this was one of the worst terrorist attacks ever to occur on United States soil, taking the lives of 168 people and injuring more than 850 others, many of them United States government employees who worked in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building; and

WHEREAS, this cowardly act of domestic terrorism directly affected thousands of families and horrified millions of people across the state and across the nation; and

WHEREAS, the people of Oklahoma and the United States responded to this tragedy through the remarkable efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel, firefighters, search and rescue teams, public and private medical personnel, other emergency services personnel, and thousands of volunteers from the community who saved lives, assisted the injured and wounded, comforted the bereaved, and provided meals and support to those who came to Oklahoma City to offer assistance; and

WHEREAS, this courageous response set what has come to be known as the “Oklahoma Standard”, which was later emulated by many Americans following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, following the 1995 attack, the people of Oklahoma and the United States pledged to build and maintain a permanent national memorial to remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever; and

WHEREAS, this pledge was fulfilled by establishing the Oklahoma City National Memorial, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world every year to the site of the attack; and

WHEREAS, the inscription on the wall of the Oklahoma City National Memorial reads: “We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.”; and

WHEREAS, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building has been replaced with a new, safe, secure, and functional federal building in downtown Oklahoma City that houses many of the offices once housed in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, sending a message that the people and government of the United States will not be cowed by terrorists; and

WHEREAS, the 27th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building is April 19, 2022.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 58TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives sends its heartfelt remembrances to the families, friends, and neighbors of the 168 people killed in the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages all citizens of the state to pause for 168 seconds on April 19, 2022, to remember the 168 people who died in this senseless tragedy.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives sends its heartfelt remembrances to those injured in the bombing and expresses gratitude to the thousands of first responders, rescue workers, medical personnel, and volunteers from the community and across the nation who answered the call for help on the morning of the attack and in the days and weeks thereafter.

THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to Kari Watkins, Executive Director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.