April 19, 1995 altered the face of Oklahoma — and the nation — forever.
Despite this unspeakable tragedy, among the most lasting memories are the tenderness of the response. The people of Oklahoma banded together in a community-wide display of spontaneous altruism.
Trucks became ambulances. Strangers became neighbors. People donated the shoes off their feet. That spirit of generosity—of giving until there’s no more to give—has been part of the DNA of the state ever since it was founded.
Visiting first responders and journalists called it the Oklahoma Standard.