On Saturday, former President Bill Clinton will return to Oklahoma City to honor the victims of the 1995 bombing, marking the 30th anniversary of the deadly attack. Clinton, who was president at the time, will deliver the keynote address at a ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum to remember the 168 people who were killed, including 19 children, and to offer comfort to those affected by the tragedy.
Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for his leadership in helping the city cope with its grief in the aftermath of the bombing, which devastated downtown Oklahoma City. He described the day as one of the most unforgettable of his presidency. “The nation’s eyes were there. The nation’s heart was broken there,” Clinton said in a video statement. “I was privately praying that I would find the right words, the right tone, the right rhythm to somehow get into the mind and heart of as many Americans as possible.”
Since the bombing, Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum several times and spoken at major anniversary events. Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the memorial, explained that the site’s mission is to help visitors understand the senselessness of political violence and to educate younger generations about the impact of the bombing. “We knew when we built this place we would someday reach a generation of people who weren’t born or didn’t remember the story,” Watkins said. “Now, it’s not just kids coming through, but also teachers who are teaching those kids.”
The ceremony, initially planned for 8:30 a.m. at the memorial grounds, has been moved indoors to a nearby church due to bad weather.