The Oklahoma Standard for future generations

Thursday marks the 23rd anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building – a day that changed our city and the entire nation when 168 people died, and left hundreds of others injured by terrorism. We remember those who lost their lives, were hurt, lost a loved one or were affected by this tragedy.

But the story of the bombing doesn’t end with the hate and violence carried out that day. The actions of first responders, volunteer agencies, businesses and people across the nation tell an unending story of hope, generosity, volunteerism and unity.

Like many Oklahomans, I experienced this outpouring of response firsthand. At the time I was the business manager for the Oklahoma City Fire Department. On the morning of April 19, 1995, I was with Fire Chief Gary Marrs on our way to a meeting downtown when the bomb detonated. Chief Marrs and I were among the first responders on the scene. For months following this tragedy, reports of recovery efforts were always in tandem with stories of people going out of their way to help one another. This response, later termed the Oklahoma Standard, is still evident today when events test our friends, families and livelihoods.

Read the full article at The Journal Record