25 Years Later: Remembering the Murrah Building Bombing

Twenty-five years ago this week, at 9:03 a.m., a blast ripped through the Alfred K. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, claiming 168 lives and impacting countless others. It remains the single largest act of domestic terrorism in the United States. Timothy McVeigh, a disgruntled former soldier was arrested two days afterwards and charged with carrying out the bombing. His accomplice, Terry Nichols was also arrested and charged. A third man was prosecuted for knowing about the plan to commit the bombing but not notifying authorities. McVeigh was sentenced to death and the sentence was carried out in June 2001. Nichols is serving 161 life sentences.

But this year’s remembrance, which under normal circumstances have been a landmark anniversary, is challenging at best. The Memorial and Museum are closed because of the response to the Covid-19 virus pandemic. The annual marathon has been rescheduled until October. Runners who had already registered are automatically rolled over to the alternate date.

Where there had been plans for 168 days of events leading up to the 25th anniversary commemoration, instead there will be a virtual ceremony. That ceremony has been recorded and will be broadcast on news and radio stations and social media accounts on April 19. It will include 168 seconds of silence plus a reading of the names of the 168 killed – including 19 children - who were employed, visiting or attending daycare at the building when it was destroyed by the fuel and fertilizer bomb parked outside in a rental truck.

It remains unclear whether the events planned for this anniversary will be held at a later date or rescheduled for the 26th anniversary.

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com