This week will go down in history as a dark moment for America and especially for the state of Virginia.  As I watch the events unfold at Virginia Tech on television, I am reminded, as I am sure many of my fellow Oklahomans are, of a similar tragic April anniversary in Oklahoma.

I am reminded of the sound of the blast that was heard and felt as I walked to work at the state capital.  I am reminded of the phone call I received from my wife telling me something awful had happened, who at the time worked in a law office in downtown Oklahoma City, three blocks away from the blast site.  I am reminded of the 168 lives that were claimed, six of them being children who were in the day-care center directly above the bomb.  I am reminded of the horror, the anger and then the sorrow that left visible scars on our Capitol City.

But I am also reminded of the enduring Oklahoma spirit and the strength and courage of those people who pulled our state through this time of tragedy.  I remember the extraordinary response from our leaders, Governor Frank Keating and his wife, First Lady Cathy Keating as they marshaled the State and moved it forward to deal with the tragedy in front of him; and of President Bill Clinton who immediately offered all the aid we needed from the United States.  And perhaps most vividly, I remember the bravery and courage of the fire chiefs, police officers, responders and average Oklahomans who lined up to assist with the rescue effort and aftermath.

Oklahomans responded in an amazing way, and after the attacks on 9/11, when I watched the people of New York City respond in the very same way, it confirmed that the Oklahoma response was essentially an American response.  We often do not realize how lucky we are to be Americans until we are in a crisis and we see how Americans behave towards one another when tragedy strikes.

There are many lessons to be learned from the tragedies of our history.  They are lessons that reflect the Oklahoma City Bombing as well as the 9/11 attacks.  I have learned that out of evil comes grace, and I saw enormous grace on April 19, 1995.  I learned that out of terror comes courage, and I saw great courage from Oklahomans on that day.  I learned that out of despair comes hope, and there is a great deal of hope that comes when you see how your country and your fellow human beings respond in a crisis.  Finally I learned that out of adversity comes triumph.  Oklahoma City is a city that believes in itself and its future more profoundly than it did before the bombing.

As we reflect on a week that marks so many tragedies in our country, I think we should all remember the lessons we have learned.  We all believe in our country, but when you have a crisis, that is when America is at its very best.  Certainly, on that particular day in April, Oklahoma was at its best.

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