Gov. Kevin Stitt highlights beginnings of Oklahoma Standard in wake of OKC bombing
During the 29th remembrance ceremony, Stitt said Oklahomans have recommitted themselves to that standard to help others and be there in their hour of need
![KOCO logo]()
Updated: 1:17 PM CDT Apr 19, 2024
9:02 A.M. ON APRIL 19TH, 1995, OKLAHOMA CHANGED FOREVER. TERROR STRUCK THE HEART OF AMERICA. EVIL TRIED TO TEAR US APART. EVIL TOOK THE LIVES OF 168 INDIVIDUALS AND INJURED HUNDREDS MORE. BUT WE LOOKED EVIL IN THE EYE AND WE CAME TOGETHER AS ONE. OKLAHOMA. WE SHOWED OUR STRENGTH, OUR RESILIENCE, AND OUR COURAGE OUT OF THE RUBBLE OF THE ALFRED P MURRAH FEDERAL BUILDING CAME THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD. AND TODAY, ON THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY, WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO THAT STANDARD. TODAY WE REMEMBER THE VICTIMS. WE HONOR THEIR SURVIVORS. AND WE WE SURROUND THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR PRAYERS. I HAVE SECRETARY BLAYNE ARTHUR AND SECRETARY SUSAN WINCHESTER ON MY HEART AS WELL. DOCTOR PEGGY CLARK, BLAINE’S MOTHER AND SUSAN’S SISTER, WAS WORKING FOR THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ON THAT FATEFUL MORNING. SECRETARY ARTHUR AND SECRETARY WINCHESTER, THEY HONOR DOCTOR CLARK’S LEGACY BY PERSONIFYING THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD. THEY SERVE THEIR STATE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND THEY CARRY ON THE LEGACY OF DOCTOR CLARK IN THE STATE THAT SHE LOVED. AFTER THIS TRAGEDY, NEIGHBORS LIFTED UP NEIGHBORS. THE SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY INVADED OUR STATE. OUR PEOPLE BANDED TOGETHER IN A MANNER UNIQUE TO OKLAHOMA. THAT LEGACY LIVES ON, AND IT LIVES IN EACH OF US THAT CALL OKLAHOMA HOME. THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD DIDN’T STOP AT THE BORDERS OF OUR STATE. IT AFFECTED THE NATION. PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER TO ASSIST IN THE RESCUE, RECOVERY AND THE REBUILDING EFFORTS. THE REMARKABLE EFFORTS OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS, SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS PROFESSIONALS, AND THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION PROVIDED COMFORT AND AIDED OUR RECOVERY. I’M SO GRATEFUL TO FORMER GOVERNOR FRANK KEATING, WHO LED OKLAHOMA THROUGH OUR DARKEST HOUR. IT WAS THE ULTIMATE TEST OF STRENGTH, AND WE’RE THANKFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATTACK, I REMEMBERED NEW YORK SENDING THEIR OWN FIREFIGHTERS TO HELP OKLAHOMA CITY TO HELP US PICK UP THE PIECES, AND WE REPAID THAT KINDNESS AFTER TERROR STRUCK OUR NATION ONCE MORE ON NINE OVER 11, WE SHOWED THE WORLD WHAT IT MEANS FOR NEIGHBORS TO WALK WITH NEIGHBORS. TIME AFTER TIME, THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA AND THIS NATION PROVE THAT EVIL DOES NOT PROSPER. A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS TRAGEDY, IN 1995, REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM CAME TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO SHARE SOME OF HIS FAITH WITH OUR GRIEVING COMMUNITY. HE SAID, TIMES LIKE THIS WILL DO ONE OF TWO THINGS. IT WILL EITHER MAKE US HARD AND BITTER AND ANGRY AT GOD, OR IT WILL MAKE US TENDER AND OPEN AND HELP US TO REACH OUT IN FAITH. IT’S CLEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA CHOSE TO DO. WE FACE DOWN. WE FACED DOWN WITH EVIL AND WE STOOD AS ONE. OKLAHOMA MOURNING FAMILIES PRESERVED. OUR LEADERS SHOWED STRENGTH AND OUR PURSUIT OF JUSTICE NEVER WAVERED. FIRST PETER THREE NINE AND TEN SAYS, DO NOT REPAY EVIL WITH EVIL OR INSULT WITH INSULT. ON THE CONTRARY, REPAY EVIL WITH BLESSINGS SO THAT YOU MAY INHERIT A BLESSING. THE CHAPTER GOES ON TO SAY, WHO IS GOING TO HARM YOU IF YOU ARE EAGER TO DO GOOD, DO NOT FEAR THEIR THREATS. DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED. WE STAND STRONG TOGETHER AND WE ARE NOT AFRAID. TO THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS, WE OFFER OUR PRAYERS OF HEALING AND OUR SUPPORT. TODAY, THE LEGACY OF THE OF THOSE WE LOST LIVES IN. EACH ONE OF US WHO CALL OKLAHOMA HOME. THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD THAT LEGACY REMAINS ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR STATE. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO RIDE OKLAHOMA STORY, WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WE LOST BY LIVING LIVES FILLED WITH PURPOSE, GIVING ALL GLORY TO GOD. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLE
Gov. Kevin Stitt highlights beginnings of Oklahoma Standard in wake of OKC bombing
During the 29th remembrance ceremony, Stitt said Oklahomans have recommitted themselves to that standard to help others and be there in their hour of need
![KOCO logo]()
Updated: 1:17 PM CDT Apr 19, 2024
Gov. Kevin Stitt highlighted the beginnings, growth and continued need for the Oklahoma Standard during Friday's remembrance ceremony honoring the 168 people killed on April 19, 1995."One moment – 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995 – Oklahoma changed forever," Gov. Kevin Stitt said. "Terror struck the heart of America. Evil tried to tear us apart."The Oklahoma City bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured hundreds more. With the rebuild came something new – the Oklahoma Standard."But we looked evil in the eye, and we came together as one Oklahoma," Stitt said. "We showed our strength, our resilience and our courage. Out of the rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building came the Oklahoma Standard."During the 29th remembrance ceremony, Stitt said Oklahomans have recommitted themselves to that standard to help others and be there in their hour of need. "After this tragedy, neighbors lifted up neighbors, the spirit of generosity invaded our state," Stitt said. "Our people banded together in a manner unique to Oklahoma. That legacy lives on, and it lives in each of us that call Oklahoma home."The Oklahoma Standard affected the country, with Stitt speaking of first responders and any others from outside the state's borders coming in to lend any help they could."In the aftermath of the attack, I remember New York sending their own firefighters to help Oklahoma City, to help us pick up the pieces. And we repaid that kindness after terror struck our nation once more on 9/11," Stitt said. "We showed the world what it means for neighbors to walk with neighbors."Top Headlines Reported stabbing at Yukon High School was false report, police and district say Remembrance ceremony to honor the 168 victims, survivors of Oklahoma City bombing 29 years later Oklahoma town shuts down recycling program indefinitely after company stops coming Could you hear loud booms in the OKC metro Wednesday night? Police explain what they were Oklahoma Republicans, Democrats divided over immigration bill
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt highlighted the beginnings, growth and continued need for the Oklahoma Standard during Friday's remembrance ceremony honoring the 168 people killed on April 19, 1995.
"One moment – 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995 – Oklahoma changed forever," Gov. Kevin Stitt said. "Terror struck the heart of America. Evil tried to tear us apart."
The Oklahoma City bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured hundreds more. With the rebuild came something new – the Oklahoma Standard.
"But we looked evil in the eye, and we came together as one Oklahoma," Stitt said. "We showed our strength, our resilience and our courage. Out of the rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building came the Oklahoma Standard."
During the 29th remembrance ceremony, Stitt said Oklahomans have recommitted themselves to that standard to help others and be there in their hour of need.
"After this tragedy, neighbors lifted up neighbors, the spirit of generosity invaded our state," Stitt said. "Our people banded together in a manner unique to Oklahoma. That legacy lives on, and it lives in each of us that call Oklahoma home."
The Oklahoma Standard affected the country, with Stitt speaking of first responders and any others from outside the state's borders coming in to lend any help they could.
"In the aftermath of the attack, I remember New York sending their own firefighters to help Oklahoma City, to help us pick up the pieces. And we repaid that kindness after terror struck our nation once more on 9/11," Stitt said. "We showed the world what it means for neighbors to walk with neighbors."
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