Oklahoma City — This session I proudly cast a vote supporting House Bill 2750, a measure that was approved unanimously in the House and Senate and signed into law by Governor Brad Henry this past week. It is a simple piece of legislation with an important goal—to ensure that future generations of Oklahomans never forget about the Oklahoma City Bombing.

Although it was 15 years ago, the memories of that day are as sharp to many Oklahomans as if it had just occurred—especially for my wife and me. We were both working in Oklahoma City, but Carole was working in the Journal Record building, right across the street from the federal building, and sustained minor injuries from flying glass. It was chaotic and incomprehensible that my wife could simply be sitting at her desk working one moment then be diving for cover in the next after hearing the explosion. My wife was among more than 600 people who were injured, but 168 lost their lives, including 19 children.

The people who were later charged and convicted of these murders were angry at the government. They decided their anger justified doing whatever it took to make their point. They were wrong. It is patriotic to voice your opinion, and if you disagree with the process to work within our Democratic system of government to make changes. To take the lives of 168 people and dismiss the deaths of innocent men, women and children as “collateral damage” is simply murder. Terrorists are not religious or political heroes—they are cowardly murderers. That is one lesson learned from the Oklahoma City Bombing, but there are others. This horrible event showed us that in the midst of something so terrible, we could see the very best in people. Oklahomans pulled together as they never had before, providing for the families of victims, the injured and those involved in the rescue and recovery at the Murrah Building.  The eyes of the world were on us, and we in turn showed them the spirit that defines us—the “Oklahoma Standard,” as it has since been called.

It is important to ensure that future generations know exactly what happened that day—the warped thinking that caused this awful crime, but also, the courage and compassion the people of this state showed in the days, weeks and months following the attack. House Bill 2750 will ensure that happens, by including this important chapter of our state in Oklahoma’s history curriculum.  As I said, it is a simple piece of legislation with an important goal. We must be sure that future generations of Oklahomans never forget what happened on the morning of April 19, 1995—and how the worst of mankind also brought out the very best in people.

Thanks again for reading my “Senate Review.” If you have any questions on a legislative matter, please do not hesitate to contact my Senate office at the Capitol by calling (405) 521-5555 or writing me with your concerns at:  Senator Sean Burrage, 2300 North Lincoln Blvd. Rm. 529-B State Capitol Building, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. I always enjoy hearing from my constituents and consider it an honor to be your voice in the Oklahoma State Senate. May God bless each of you.