Journalist says helpers had courage and hope in tragedy’s aftermath
Few things have impacted Oklahoma City more than the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in April of 1995.
On Nov. 2, a “Day One” luncheon was held, marking the beginning of 168 days of remembrance. “Day One” leads us to April 19, 2022 — the 27th anniversary of our great sadness.
Printed in the luncheon’s program book were these words: “We will always choose to remember because we can’t afford to forget.” This story of tragedy, and our amazing Oklahoma Standard of Care, is meant to be shared again and again.
It is a tale of hope and resilience. The speaker for the recent luncheon was Scott Pelley, award-winning journalist on the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes, and former anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. Scott was one of the frontline national television reporters covering the story of the Murrah Building bombing. He also was one of the first journalists on the scene of the 9/11 tragedy in New York City.
Scott brought to Day One his profound insight into seeing, first-hand, such horrific events. In these scenes of chaos, he noted that people, their grief, and their questions all seemed the same: “If this kind of thing can happen, what is the meaning of life?”
Scott thinks, rather, the right question to ask is, “What is the meaning of you?”
As he has witnessed such events, what remains is his deep, abiding admiration for those who have run toward disaster in order help others.
He reflected on this type of character through a lone chair, a bit apart from other chairs at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. On the front row, it sits closest to the gate displaying the time 9:03 on the top. That chair belongs to Rebecca Anderson, and it’s set apart because this 37-year-old nurse did not die in the explosion. When Rebecca heard the bombing, she rushed from her home and into the debris. Nobody called her; nobody sent her. She went because she was needed. Rescuing survivors, she collapsed and later died. Scott noted that same kind of character in New York City firefighters during 9/11. Three hundred and forty three of them died. How did they find the courage to pour into a burning building? Beyond the call of duty, it was selfless devotion. Of those men who died, 60 of their children have become New York City firefighters. Nine of those deceased firefighters had traveled to Oklahoma City to help during our 1995 bombing.
Why do we continue to tell this sad Oklahoma story? Why do we want to remember? Because it’s a story that is full of courage and hope, of coming together, of lending a hand. And because we must not turn away from the impact of such senseless violence.
Perhaps, if we remember and share the pain, we can live a better future. Maybe, even with different opinions, we can learn to love each other, as God unfailingly continues to love us.
Scott noted that 9:03, represented on the memorial gate, denotes the time when the healing began. Few of us are able to make sense of the evil that destroys innocent lives, but we can all act responsibly and join in the process of healing.
“In ways large and small,” Scott said, “when we ask ourselves what is the meaning of life and life asks what is the meaning of you? Let us all have a ready answer.”
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13).”