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Washington, D.C.-As the nation marks the sixth anniversary of the tragic 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen M. Kelley said the courage and the will to move forward, displayed by survivors, their families and friends and the Oklahoma City community, stand as a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

“At 9:02 on April 19, 1995, the worst act of domestic terrorism in our history claimed the lives of 168 men, women and children. It forever changed a community and our nation. After six years, the healing process continues for victims, families and the Oklahoma City community. In their courage, in their will to move forward, we witness the strength of the human spirit in the face of great tragedy and sorrow,” said Kelley.

The union leader said that federal employees mark the anniversary knowing that the victims of this senseless act of violence were colleagues in public service.

“The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building was not a random act. It was a planned attack on those who worked for the federal government,” said Kelley. “It serves to underscore the programs and measures designed to strengthen security at federal facilities to protect against terrorists. It serves to underscore the need to appreciate the dangerous work being done by those federal employees who serve on the front lines of our nation’s war against crime and illegal drugs. And, it serves to underscore a need to rekindle America’s appreciation and respect for public service and the work done by federal employees.”

Kelley said the Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, dedicated recently in Oklahoma City and devoted to the study of terrorism and political violence, is a living legacy to the victims and survivors of the bombing. The opening of the Institute follows the dedication last April of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the opening this winter of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Center.

The Center houses a museum that provides an opportunity for visitors to follow a 10-chapter story beginning in Oklahoma City the morning of the bombing and ending with a look at the community and its people today and their ongoing journey of recovery.

NTEU represents some 150,000 employees in 25 agencies and departments.