2008 Woodie Awards
Oklahoma City bombing memorial draws inspiration from state and national leaders
Claire Sonnichsen ; Daily O'Collegian (Oklahoma State U.)
Issue date: 4/27/05 Section: News
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"Ten years later, we still grieve and remember," Clinton said, who came to Oklahoma in 1995 for a statewide prayer service four days after the bombing. "We should be very proud Oklahoma City was not paralyzed by its pain."
Clinton also spoke about the Survivor Tree, using it as a metaphor for how families and survivors recover after such a tragedy.
"Boy, that tree was ugly when I first saw it, but survive it did," Clinton said of the tree that was stripped and charred after the blast and has since survived and regrown to become a part of the bombing memorial.
"Trees are good symbols for what we did. You can't forget the life of a tree is in the roots, and if you lose the roots, you lose the tree," he said.
Clinton went on to emphasize how important it is to "never stop mourning, never stop missing" those who were killed, but also "to be like the tree - to keep our roots and to reach for tomorrow."
Cheney, who was instrumental in getting federal funding to build the memorial, said he brought with him personal regards from President George W. Bush.
After recalling the calm of the morning of April 19, 1995 that was broken by what "seemed like a clap of thunder," Cheney noted that among the rescuers were nine members of the New York Task Force 1, who later died in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Speaking of the city's response to the bombing, he quoted a U.S. district judge: "'We are a strong and simple folk, we'll rebuild and roll with this thing.' Oklahoma City did rebuild, but it was not easy."
The vice president also said he admired the city's resolve.
"All humanity can see that you have experienced bottomless cruelty and responded with heroism," Cheney said. "Your strength was challenged, and you held firm. Your faith was tested, and it has not wavered."