WASHINGTON, D.C. - On April 19, 1995, lives were forever changed when 168 people were killed during an attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the bombing and to honor the brave individuals who were lost in the explosion, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) will join the Oklahoma City National Memorial in celebrating the National Week of Hope April 17-24.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial’s National Week of Hope is designed to educate individuals about the bombing, as well as to honor the victims, survivors and all others whose lives were affected by the tragedy.
“We lost a number of our brothers and sisters in the bombing and want to do all we can to honor not only them, but all federal workers who take their lives in their hands just coming to work each day,” said AFGE National President John Gage.
AFGE representatives, including Gage, will come to Oklahoma City during the National Week of Hope to distribute arm bands to federal workers that bear the slogan “In Solidarity.” Additionally, AFGE members also will serve as volunteers for various National Week of Hope events.
AFGE represented many of the federal workers who were killed during the 1995 bombing including 16 workers from the Social Security office and 35 workers from the Housing and Urban Development office. Additionally, AFGE represented workers in the Department of Labor and GSA offices.
“By distributing the arm bands and volunteering for the Oklahoma City National Memorial, we hope to show that these workers will never be forgotten,” said Gage. “We can’t do enough to honor all those who were affected by what happened on April 19.”