Remembering the Oklahoma City Bombing: 31 Years Later

Oklahoma City marked the 31st anniversary of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building with a remembrance ceremony honoring the 168 people killed and recognizing survivors, first responders, and families affected by the attack.

The ceremony, held at the Oklahoma City National Memorial on the morning of April 19, 2026, included a moment of silence at 9:02 a.m., the exact time the truck bomb detonated outside the federal building. Survivors, family members of victims, and public officials gathered at the memorial’s Reflecting Pool and Field of Empty Chairs, where 168 glass-based chairs represent each life lost.

Among those present were relatives of the victims, including parents, siblings, and children who have attended annual observances since the bombing. Several survivors shared brief reflections during the program, speaking about the enduring impact of the attack and the importance of remembrance in fostering resilience, and unity.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt delivered remarks emphasizing the city’s continued commitment to remembering the victims and supporting those still healing. Holt noted that the memorial serves not only as a place of grief but also as a symbol of the community’s strength in the face of terrorism.

Stitt highlighted the role of first responders in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, acknowledging the efforts of firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, and volunteers who rushed to the scene to search for survivors and provide aid. He also recognized the ongoing work of the memorial’s educational programs, which teach visitors about the causes and consequences of political violence.

The ceremony included the reading of all 168 names of those killed in the bombing, a tradition observed each year. The names were read aloud by a combination of family members, survivors, and community volunteers, followed by a single bell toll for each name.

In addition to the 168 direct victims, organizers acknowledged the unborn child of Peggy Clark, who was pregnant at the time of her death and is commemorated separately at the memorial. The total number of lives lost in the attack is therefore recognized as 169 by the memorial institution.

The 1995 bombing, carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. History. McVeigh was executed in 2001 for his role in the attack, while Nichols is serving multiple life sentences. A third accomplice, Michael Fortier, testified against McVeigh and Nichols in exchange for a reduced sentence and was released in 2006.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, established on the site of the former Murrah Building, continues to host educational exhibits, public forums, and annual commemorations. Museum officials reported that attendance at the memorial remains steady, with visitors from across the United States and abroad coming to learn about the event and its lessons.

As the city observes another anniversary, officials reiterated their focus on preserving the memory of those lost while promoting messages of peace, vigilance, and community solidarity. The remembrance ceremony concluded with a laying of wreaths at the memorial’s Gates of Time, which frame the moment before and after the blast.