Daughter Uses Senior Pictures To Remember First Responder Father

As we inch closer to the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, it's important to remember the reasons why we take part in the race.

Cadence Treece recently got her senior pictures taken at the memorial. The reason why is inspiring. 

"I am graduating this may and I will be attending Oklahoma Baptist University and the pre med and biology major," Cadence said.

Senior photos are something you can hold onto to remember moments and milestones.

"It is just the impact that he’s had here and he just saved so many lives here it’s always with me... I have I’m sorry hold on I have to hold on," Cadence said.

Candace said this year's senior photos are about more than just capturing the accomplishment of graduating high school.

"I did it here because this is always going to be a memory for me, for me and for my dad because he has made such an impact on this community," Cadence said.

They represent a daughter's love for her father, a hero.

"And so I am crying again and so that is why I am always going to remember him," Cadence said.

Wes Treece joined the Shawnee Fire Department in 1991. 

On April 19, 1995, his crew responded to the bombing at the Murrah building.

"Actually the fire chief when he saw what had happened on the news he went ahead and set an engine with four guys right away and so they were on scene within the first hour," Richelle Treece, Wes’s wife, said.

Wes and Richelle met in 1998 and had two children together. In 2009, his health took a terrible turn.

"By the time his primary care saw him, within an hour he was in emergency surgery because his colon had ruptured. He told us that it was cancer, and he did chemo for almost a year and was able to stave it off, but it came back, and by the time it came back, it was stage four," Richelle said.

Richard Treece, Wes's son, said his dad passed away from cancer just after his 2nd birthday.

"Unfortunately I was only two when he died so I don't have many memories of him but I do know what everyone has told me about him... That he was strong and loving and he always kept going no matter what," Richard said.

The courage to keep going-- that is the legacy he left for his children.

"I want to become a doctor and help others just how my dad did and helped everyone here," Cadence said.

Click here for our coverage leading up to this year's Memorial Marathon