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CNN Sunday Morning

People Gather at Bombing Memorial to Mourn

Aired May 13, 2001 - 08:01   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Mother's Day tugs the heartstrings of many Americans, but perhaps nowhere is it more poignant than in Oklahoma City. Attorney General John Ashcroft reportedly says, out of respect for the victims and families of the Oklahoma City bombing, he will not extend Timothy McVeigh's execution date beyond June 11.

CNN's Martin Savidge is in Oklahoma City.

Good morning, Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles. That article appears in the Sunday version of "The Oklahoman." And as you say, it quotes Attorney General John Ashcroft as claiming that he will not extend any further the deadline for the execution of Timothy McVeigh even if he requests -- or gets requests, rather, from attorneys for the defense team of McVeigh asking for more time to review the thousands of documents that were recently turned over by the FBI.

In that article, Ashcroft talks about his decision to postpone the execution of McVeigh until June 11. He said, quote, "I just felt there had to be clarity in the mind of the American public that our responsibilities were carried out in advance of this final act to bring closure to the whole episode." He also said that he regrets if his decision brought any further suffering for the family members here in Oklahoma City.

Meanwhile here, the focus does shift away from an execution to another date on the calendar: today, Mother's Day. And it's going to be another painful reminder of the past.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Mommy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What'd you find, sweetheart?

SAVIDGE (voice-over): This is the sixth Mother's Day since a bomb turned the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building into a memorial.

BETTY SCOTT: It just makes you appreciate your family and the loss of the other families at that time. And it was so unexpected and so unprepared for. SAVIDGE: Amidst 168 chairs representing people who died in the building, 54 belong to mothers; 19 smaller ones represent children, but all of them represent a mother's child.

MARA HENRY: The people that come out and maybe lost mothers or lost children, this is -- this -- it helps to heal, to see that so many people are still caring about what happened six years ago.

SAVIDGE: Entire families visit here, sometimes spanning generations and sparking conversations with a child, trying to explain what this place is.

HEATHER BELLOWS: I said they built kind of a park and an area that people can come and remember the time that there were people that were killed.

SAVIDGE: There are messages to be found here, and ones left behind -- like this one by 12 year old Ryan Cobble.

RYAN COBBLE: We will never forget the tragedy, but we will always grow stronger.

MARTIN SAVIDGE: Thirty children were made orphans by the explosion; 219 children lost one parent or another.

JULIE RANDOL: I hurt for them. I just hope those families have a faith in God that can get them through because the Bible tells us that there's a peace that passes all understanding. And I think that's the only thing that can make life worth living after something like this, is that peace, that you know there is something more than just this life and that they will see their loved ones again.

SAVIDGE: Memorial officials will tell you Mother's Day, traditionally, is no different than any other day here. Visitor to this place might disagree.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Many Oklahomans would tell you it is their faith, and also their love of family that will carry them through what is bound to be a very painful day for many of them -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right, Martin Savidge in Oklahoma City.

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