April 19, 1995, altered the face of Oklahoma – and the nation – forever. Despite this unspeakable tragedy, among the most lasting memories are the tenderness of the response. The people of Oklahoma banded together in a community-wide display of spontaneous altruism. Cars became ambulances. Strangers became neighbors. People donated the shoes off their feet. That spirit of generosity – of giving until there’s no more to give – has been part of the city’s DNA ever since it was founded. Visiting rescue workers and journalists called it the Oklahoma Standard.
“People went out of their way to share everything they had to make it comfortable for the rescue workers, the firefighters, anyone who was there to help. This became known as the Oklahoma Standard.“
Commit Now
We ask that you commit Acts of Service, Honor, and Kindness.
- Service means giving your time to someone in need.
- Honor the victims and survivors of the 1995 bombing, by visiting the Memorial Museum, cheering at the Memorial Marathon or leaving a token of appreciation on a chair in the Memorial.
- No Act of Kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.