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Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day falls on Monday, April 19, 2027. That is 174 days away.

Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day remembers the people who were killed and injured when a truck bomb destroyed much of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The victims included federal workers, visitors to the building, and young children from a daycare center inside it.

The response that followed is part of how the day is remembered. Rescuers, medical workers and ordinary residents came forward to search the site, give blood, and care for families. Oklahomans often call that spirit of service and kindness the Oklahoma Standard.

Today the site of the building is the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Its outdoor memorial includes a shallow reflecting pool between two large gates, and a field of empty chairs, one for each person who died. The smaller chairs stand for the children. The memorial is quiet by design, and many visitors walk through it slowly or sit for a while without speaking.

The day is usually marked with a moment of silence, the reading of names, and gatherings at the memorial and in communities across the state. Some people simply take a few minutes to read about the victims and survivors, or to thank local first responders.

On the grounds stands an American elm known as the Survivor Tree. It was damaged in the blast and still lived, and seeds from it have been grown into saplings planted in many other places.

Ways to celebrate

• Observe a moment of silence for the victims and their families.
• Read the names and stories of those who were lost.
• Write a note of thanks to local first responders.
• Attend a local remembrance ceremony or service if one is held.
• Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial, in person or through its online materials.

Dates

All national days on April 19

Also on April 19

• Patriots' Day
• National Garlic Day
• National Amaretto Day
• National Chicken Parmesan Day
• National Rice Ball Day
• National Hanging Out Day

Categories: Commemorative days