On April 19, 1995, I was 15 years old sitting in English class at a south Oklahoma City high school. When the Alfred P. Murrah building in downtown OKC was bombed that morning, the sound rattled our windows so much that they came open, despite being locked on the inside. Students took turns going to the office to make phone calls to parents. A television was rolled in on a cart so that we could watch footage on what happened. No one directly close to us was injured, but at that point in the day we couldn’t have been certain of that. I didn’t know it then, but that was the day I started growing proud to be an Oklahoman.
Over the next days and weeks, there would be so many amazing and tragic stories to be shared among us. Oklahoma would suffer and flourish in the way Oklahoma always does. The one person I had actually known that died in the building that day demonstrated this beautiful suffering in her last moments. Jamie Genzer, a woman I sang in Sweet Adelines with, worked in the Murrah building. The way it was told to me was that another singer was interviewing in the building that morning, but forgot her resume. By chance (or providence), she bumped into Jamie and shared her frustration. Jamie assured her she had enough time to run back to her car. That kindness from Jamie saved this woman’s life.
The shame that comes from the very flawed members of our community is outshined by the majority who are ready to do the right thing in the face of pain and struggle. Maybe we’re just really good at recovery and rebuilding. There would be so many tornadoes and tragedies further down the road that would continue the growing pride I now find in my home.
When 9/11 happened, it was brought bizarre flashbacks and an odd sense of familiarity. It’s nothing that you’d wish on anyone, but it was something Oklahoma knew how to handle.
As today marks the 26th anniversary of the Murrah bombing in Oklahoma City, I am thankful to have grown up here. It’s not a pride in the tragedies so many have had to endure, but a pride in the resiliency of a community. This community is full of different people with different lives that, when it really matters - like in emergencies and their aftermath - take care of each other.
In a pretty complicated world that we live in, I’m so thankful I’m raising my kids around people who know how to take care of each other. The common mantra on this day is “May We Never Forget”, but if you experienced that day, I don’t think you ever could. Today is a great day to pray for those who have suffered tragedies in their life, but are in the throws of having to live life anyway. May God’s peace block out all the rest.