Oklahomans remember bombing 15 years later

OKLAHOMA CITY, April 19 (UPI) -- Oklahomans were asked to take time Monday to remember the 168 people who died in Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City 15 years ago.

Gov. Brad Henry directed that all U.S. and Oklahoma flags on state property be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the worst homegrown terrorist attack in the United States. Henry urged Oklahomans to fly the American flag all week to commemorate the anniversary, The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman reported.

"We shall never forget the 168 Americans who lost their lives, including 19 children, on that fateful day," Henry said in a release.

Susan Winchester, whose sister Peggy was among the victims, is one of the readers of the victims' names at the Annual Remembrance Ceremony. The former state legislator will read the list of names of Department of Agriculture employees, including her sister's.

"Participating in the ceremony is important but also very hard," Winchester told The Oklahoman. "A lifetime of memories crosses your mind as you look back on the time you shared together and the many things that have happened since that you were unable to share."

Susan Winchester, a Republican, was elected to the House in 1998 and served five two-year terms. The first piece of legislation Winchester sponsored that was signed into law allowed people to donate their Oklahoma income tax refunds to the national memorial.

The April 19, 1995, explosion at the Murrah building was set off by Timothy McVeigh, a militia movement sympathizer. McVeigh was executed in 2001.