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OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. () — Saturday marks 30 years since a truck loaded with explosive material detonated in front of the Alred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma City bombing at the nine-floor building on April 19, 1995, left 168 people dead. Nineteen of them were young children at the building’s day care center.
Today’s remembrance service at First church was a chance to honor those who were lost and to give a voice to those who lost so much.
Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the service as he was president on that day in 1995.
“And remembering 30 years ago, I thought I was going to have a very different day when I woke up. I went jogging with the winners of the Boston Marathon. Giving me the illusion and an illusion it was. And I was somehow pretty fit. And then I got a Back to the White House. And the devastating news. That truck bomb as you all know better than I claimed 168 lives. 19 of them were little children. In the building’s daycare center. One of the Secret Service agents, Al Witcher, who lost his life, was a member of my detail. And he left me. And he was very popular and very good at what he did. But he had a family. And he said, you know what, you travel too much. I want to be home more. And Oklahoma City would be a good place to raise my kids. All of us who knew him thought. He was going on a much safer journey. It shows you how little Any of us can know. And about what tomorrow will bring. That bomber. Profoundly shook the country. And did more to all of you.”