Former President BILL CLINTON delivered a poignant address at an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, urging Americans to embrace unity and resilience in the face of adversity. The bombing, which occurred on April 19, 1995, at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, remains the deadliest homegrown terrorist attack in U.S. history, claiming 168 lives, including 19 children, and injuring nearly 700 others.
Reflecting on the tragedy, CLINTON shared his personal memories of the day. “Thirty years ago, I thought I was going to have a very different day when I woke up,” he told attendees. “I went jogging with the winners of the Boston Marathon, giving me the illusion, and an illusion it was, that I was somehow pretty fit. And then I got back to the White House and the devastating news.”
CLINTON also highlighted the “Oklahoma Standard,” a spirit of resilience and community that emerged in the aftermath of the attack. He expressed his hope that every American could embody this spirit, stating, “I wish every American would get a copy of the Oklahoma Standard in the mail or on their cell phone tomorrow. I bet you it would have a terrific impact.” He encouraged Oklahomans to share this ethos nationwide, emphasizing its importance in fostering unity.
The attack was orchestrated by former Army soldier TIMOTHY MCVEIGH, who parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the federal building and detonated a bomb at 9:02 a.m. MCVEIGH and his co-conspirators were later captured, convicted, and sentenced. MCVEIGH was executed on June 11, 2001, just three months before the 9/11 attacks, which surpassed the Oklahoma City bombing as the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
In his 1995 address following the bombing, CLINTON condemned the act as “an attack on innocent children and defenseless citizens. It was an act of cowardice and it was evil. The United States will not tolerate it. And I will not allow the people of this country to be intimidated by evil cowards.”
The 30th anniversary event served as a somber reminder of the lives lost and the enduring strength of the Oklahoma community. CLINTON‘s call for unity and resilience resonates as a timeless message for the nation.
[Source: U.S. Department of Justice](https://www.justice.gov)
[Source: Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com)