State Representative Rick West (R-Heavener)
By Rep. Rick West
When I first got elected to serve in the House of Representatives, I made a promise to remember my coworkers who perished in the Oklahoma City bombing, with a resolution on the House floor.
I worked for USDA back in 1995. I was not at work at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building at the time the blast went off at 9:02 a.m. on April 19 , but eight of my coworkers were. Seven of them lost their lives: Olan Bloomer, Jim Boles, Peggy Clark, Dick Cummings, Adele Higginbottom, Carol Khalil and Rheta Long. My boss at the time, Dr. Brian Espe, survived the blast, but it sure took its toll on him. He died back in 2008.
I got to thinking about why I feel compelled to read these seven names each year and to remember these people among the 168 individuals who died in what has been called the deadliest domestic terror act ever in U.S. history. I guess the biggest thing as a survivor is I don’t want their memories to die alongside them. In actuality, they’ve already died two deaths – their physical death and the death of the life they could have had.
Their lives were certainly not in vain. They left behind loving family members, friends and coworkers who were touched and changed by their actions while alive. We will keep their memories sacred.
But I also wanted to do something different this year. We had a joint session of the Legislature and invited some dignitaries to speak with us, including former Gov. Frank Keating, who was governor at the time of the bombing. We also had Kari Watkins, executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. And we had a journalist, Carrie Hulsey, who was a reporter with KTOK radio at the time of the bombing, tell her story. It was special.
But I decided, we can’t just keep coming and mourning every year over what we lost. We must find a way to move forward, to teach this next generation why this remembrance is important but to not tie them to the horrific events of the past. We must give them some hope that divisions can be solved without hatred.
One of the things I’ve struggled with about this bombing was the thought of ever being able to forgive those who perpetrated this terrible act. As a Christian, I’m taught by the words of Jesus that if I can’t forgive others their debts against me, then I can’t be forgiven by my Father in heaven. But how do you forgive such a heinous act, and how do you ask others who have lost so much to forgive those who hurt them so deeply.
The truth is, sometimes we just don’t have it in ourselves to forgive. We have to ask for divine help. Jesus Himself said to love our enemies and to bless those who curse us, to do good to those who hate us and to pray for those who despitefully use or persecute us. That’s hard to do in the face of such evil, but as I stopped to remember this 30th anniversary of the bombing this year, I decided it’s time.
Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.
As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.
Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.
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