Transforming Our Trauma.
In a moment, Dr. Michael Anderson while standing in St. Anthony's Hospital, as victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing arrive with various injuries... some very severe and some not as severe, realizes the magnitude of tragedy.
He acknowledges the overwhelming impact, the amount of suffering and the amazing coordination of emergency health officials. The compassionate and accurate response of emergency medical systems was simply amazing.
What resulted was a moving sermon written by Dr. Anderson late Saturday night, April 26, 1995. The sermon's words of enlightenment, encouragement, hope, love and understanding was copied and shared with more than 2,000 people. It also included and amazing plan to help tranform trauma into peace, hope and love.
We Will Always Remember. Kari Watkins, executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, reflects on the design and purpose of the museum, why and how we remember and the growth of Oklahoma City as a result.
Analyzing the truth. Experts discuss the actions of Timothy McVeigh and how we can avoid (if possible) terrorist attacks.
Justice shall prevail. The District Attorney, Wes Lane understood immediately the power and importance of seeking justice for the families of loved ones lost in the Oklahoma City Bombing. Sandra Elliott, Assistant District Attorney and Lead Prosecutor shares her experiences and the seeing the big picture.
Originally scheduled to be tried in Lawton with U.S. District Judge Wayne Allen (Judge Allen and his staff were injured during the bombing), a change of venue was ordered and the trial was moved to Denver, Colorado with District Judge Richard Matsch. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols faced 4 charges including The Use of a Truck Bomb as a Weapon of Mass Destruction... The premise of the case is that both men worked alone and in concert with one another.
We can only imagine what it is like to have a first-hand reflection of losing a loved one in the Oklahoma City Bombing. In this episode, one woman shares her detailed account of loss, the trial and the love showered by a community of support.
The evidence is beginning to pile up... and the members of the team sits around to discuss all of the details that have been revealed about the Oklahoma City bombing. As key pieces like the truck axle, the video of the Ryder truck, business cards and surface, all of the puzzle pieces begin to create a clear picture. FBI research reveals eye witness details from the Ryder rental company and more.
On April 23, 1995 a memorial service was planned for the survivors and family members of those lost in the Oklahoma City Bombing. Cathy Keating worked hard to secure wonderful speakers including Billy Graham. "The anger you feel is valid. But you must not allow yourselves to be consumed by it. Do not allow your hurt you feel must not be allowed to turn into hate, but instead into the search for justice. The loss you feel must not paralyze your own lives instead you must try to pay tribute to your loved ones by continuing to do all the things they left undone thus ensuring they did not live in vain." Words written by the widow and mother of three, her husband was on PanAm 103 when shot down and read by President Clinton during the memorial service. Ironically, the service was held on Timothy McVeigh's birthday.
So much evidence... a composite sketch, a business card, receipts and a debit card. There seemed to be a never ending trail of evidence pointing to McVeigh. But even more evidence strongly indicated he wasn't alone. From unearthing the Ryder truck rental to the scrambled written details on the back of a business card everything began to add up... initially. But, who's address was that on his driver's license? And what about the call made to a white supremacists group from his debit card? Who were Mahon and Strassmeir and what roles did they play? Who was John Doe #2?
Questions began to swirl as the investigation continued...
The arrest of Timothy McVeigh began as a routine traffic stop. From the outside looking in, he seemed like a normal guy. Polite. Respectful. Everything a person being stopped with nothing to hide would be.... until Trooper Charles Hanger noticed a bulge in his jacket. Immediately, everything changed... and McVeigh was arrested. Nothing about this situation alerted the officer to believe he was the bombing suspect, in fact, he had absolutely no knowledge of his potential connection to the bombing in Oklahoma City.
Then, someone connected the dots... right in the nick of time.
After the horrific blast at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City a community pulled together and responded immediately. Fireman ran to aid. Policemen rushed on site. Citizens ran into the building to rescue anyone that could be rescued. Freshly inaugurated Governor Frank Keating, minutes from a prayer breakfast began to request help and try to find the best way to rescue and recover...
Almost instantly, you could sense a pulling together of spirits, a working and uniting as one to make something unimaginable and unbelievable tolerable and bearable.
One officer describes it as "organized chaos". The scene was overwhelming... billowing smoke, paper floating, cars on fire, glass glistening, tragic screams and loss of life. But somehow, the community agencies pulled together and worked tirelessly to save lives.
The stories you will hear will not only touch your heart, but they will warm your spirit as you listen to, "The Response".
If you ask a native Oklahoman where they were on April 19th, 1995, most can tell you… within a matter of seconds. The day Oklahoma City’s Alfred P. Murrah building was bombed is a day many Oklahoman’s can’t forget. The city and it’s community will forever be changed. We will always remember the moments before, and the moments after.
The blast was felt for miles around. Billows of smoke in the shape of mushroom clouds hung over the building contrasting with the beautiful blue Oklahoma sky. Dusty air from the cemented clouds emerged from rubble as paper floated in the air. Cars were on fire, glass was glistening against the tarred streets and terror rested on the faces of those that managed to escape the destruction. No one knew what exactly happened and trying to save lives became many persons first and only priority.
Categorized as the worst act of Domestic Terrorism carried out by a U.S. citizen in the History of America on American soil made this catastrophic scene not only a recovery scene… but also, a crime scene. In this episode, you will hear stories and details from first responders like Oklahoma City Police Department’s then Sgt. (Lt.) Bruce Davis, Trey Davis a KTOK reporter, and Jon Hansen, the assistant fire chief.