30 years later: honoring the legacy of the Oklahoma City National Memorial

As Oklahoma City marks 30 years since the tragic bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, community leaders are reflecting on the efforts that turned a day of darkness into years of remembrance and healing.

Members of the original Memorial Task Force played a pivotal role in shaping the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, ensuring it was an inclusive space dedicated to honoring victims, survivors, and first responders.

"Creating the memorial was the most important thing in this city that we could have gotten wrong," Jeanette Gamba, a member of the original Memorial Task Force, said. "But we didn’t. We got it right."

With no precedent or funding in place at the beginning, the project relied on community-driven efforts. Kerr-McGee made the first $1 million pledge, and local leaders worked tirelessly to ensure survivors and victims' families had the strongest voice in shaping the memorial.

"We wanted the project managed locally," Tom McDaniel, another member of the original Memorial Task Force, said. "Letting the survivors and the family members have the strongest voice."

Since its completion within just five years of the bombing, the memorial has served as a symbol of resilience, unity, and remembrance. As the anniversary approaches, organizers emphasize the importance of educating future generations about the events of April 19, 1995.

"Young people are important. We must bring them aboard to show the world how we reacted and what we accomplished from it," Lee Allan Smith, another member of the original Memorial Task Force, said.

The annual remembrance ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 19, and will be broadcast live on News 9.