Oklahoma City and New York City honor shared tragedy in new documentary
A documentary commemorates the connection between Oklahoma City and New York City, forged through shared experiences of terror attacks and the importance of remembrance.
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Oklahoma City and New York City, connected by shared experiences of terror attacks, are commemorating their bond through a new documentary released on the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.
“It’s a hard story. There’s no denying that,” said Payton Bell, media director for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.
The connection began in 1995 after the Oklahoma City bombing, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency activated a group of 11 urban search-and-rescue teams, including New York Task Force One. That team spent days assisting Oklahoma City as it searched through the rubble.
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“After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Oklahoma City was able to return the same support that New York City offered us,” Bell said.
Now, the two cities have joined forces with three other museums honoring victims of terror attacks worldwide to release a documentary about the need to remember.
“It’s just so powerful to hear them in several different languages. But the message is the same: that education is so important, remembrance is so important and we can never, ever forget what happened at these places,” Bell said.
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While the topics covered in the documentary are heavy, museum officials hope viewers leave with a renewed sense of hope.
“We just hope that whoever watches this documentary is left with a shared sentiment of hope and that tomorrow can be a brighter day,” Bell said.
The documentary is now available on YouTube and the museum’s social media pages.