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American Morning

Many Visiting Oklahoma City National Memorial

Aired June 08, 2001 - 10:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The bombing of the Murrah Federal Building has become a touchstone of American history: Many of us remember where we were when we first heard of this worst-ever act of terrorism on U.S. soil.

Now, many are reliving the awful moments, with a pilgrimage, of sorts, to the site.

CNN's Ed Lavandera explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's always 9:02 here, April 19, 1995.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In between is the minute that never should have been.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was where the building was.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ann Davis (ph) has no connection to the Oklahoma City bombing, but she still wants to walk the bombing memorial grounds with her grandchildren.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this, like, their graves?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, it's just a memorial to them, so you'll remember and never forget that this happened.

LAVANDERA: These are tough questions to answer, but it's even tougher to explain what happened.

Outside the building, there were some people killed too, because it was such a tremendous blast. People for miles away felt it.

LAVANDERA: Though there are some things here Davis knows she'll never be able to explain to her grandchildren, she hopes this moment will leave a lifelong impression.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've heard about it on the news and everything, but when you get here and see it and just know that it really happened, and happened here, it's just very emotional.

One minute of destruction, 9:02. 9:01 really represents the innocence not only for our nation, but also for the people who are now represented by empty chairs, because they had no idea that that was the last moment of their lives.

LAVANDERA: More than 1,200 people visit the Bombing Memorial every day. Most come from out of state.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did anybody live through this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

LAVANDERA: As Timothy McVeigh's execution day draws closer, this Houston family wonders about one question.

TONI CATES, MEMORIAL VISITOR: It's hard to understand what we do to each other and why we do it to each other -- why we treat each other the way we do sometimes.

LAVANDERA: Perhaps that's why people come here, where, at least for a brief moment, they can find comfort with others who are struggling to answer the same question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Twenty-six years old.

LAVANDERA: Ed Lavandera, CNN, Oklahoma City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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