Of course those of you who have not been with us throughout the morning uh perhaps did not know that this morning before the president and first lady left Washington they planted *** flowering dogwood tree, uh, on the grounds of the White House as *** symbol of the people who lost their lives in Wednesday's explosion. We're watching as the motorcade comes toward the fairgrounds on traveling west on Interstate 40. Uh, *** lot of cars, obviously *** huge motorcade, and, uh, present therein is President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. And yet in the middle of *** bright sunny day, the lights are on which lets you know that they are on for only one reason, and that is to honor the memory of those who were lost in the explosion and to give help to those who remain. Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton. OK Thank you. OK Thank you very much. Governor Keating and Mrs. Keating. Reverend Graham To the families of those who have been lost and wounded. To the people of Oklahoma City who have endured so much and the people of this wonderful state. To all of you who are here. As our fellow Americans. I am honored to be here today to represent the American people. But I have to tell you that Hillary and I also come as parents, as husband and wife, as people who were your neighbors for some of the best years of our lives. Today our nation joins with you in grief. We mourn with you. We share your hope against hope that some may still survive. We thank all those who have worked so heroically to save lives and to solve this crime. Those here in Oklahoma and those who are all across this great land and many who left their own lives to come here to work hand in hand with you. We pledge to do all we can to help you heal the injured. To rebuild this city and to bring to justice those who did this evil. This terrible sin took the lives of our American family. Innocent children in that building only because their parents were trying to be good parents, as well as good workers. Citizens in the building going about their daily business and many there who served the rest of us. Who work to help the elderly and the disabled, who work to support our farmers and our veterans. Who work to enforce our laws and to protect us. Let us say clearly, they served us well, and we are grateful. But for so many of you, they were also neighbors and friends. You saw them at church or the PTA meetings. At the civic clubs at the ballpark. You know them in ways that All the rest of America could not. And to all the members of the families here present who have suffered loss. Though we share your grief. Your pain is unimaginable, and we know that. We cannot undo it. That is God's work. Our words seem small beside the loss you have endured. But I found *** few I wanted to share today. I've received *** lot of letters in these last terrible days. One stood out because it came from *** young widow. And *** mother of three whose own husband was murdered with over 200 other Americans when Pan Am 103 was shot down. Here is what that woman said, I should say to you today. The anger you feel is valid, but you must not allow yourselves to be consumed by it. The hurt you feel must not be allowed to turn into hate, but instead into the search for justice. The loss you feel must not paralyze your own lives. Instead, you must try to pay tribute to your loved ones by continuing to do all the things they left undone, thus ensuring they did not die in vain. Wise words from one who also knows. You have lost too much. But you have not lost everything. And you have certainly not lost America. For we will stand with you. For as many tomorrows as it takes. If ever we needed evidence of that. I could only recall the words of Governor and Mrs. Keating. If anybody thinks that Americans are mostly mean and selfish, they ought to come to Oklahoma. If anybody thinks Americans have lost the capacity for love and caring and courage, they ought to come to Oklahoma. To all my fellow Americans beyond this hall, I say, One thing we owe those who have sacrificed. is the duty to purge ourselves of the dark forces which gave rise to this evil. They are forces that threaten our common peace, our freedom, our way of life. Let us teach our children that the God of comfort is also the God of righteousness. Those who trouble their own house will inherit the wind. Justice will prevail. Let us let our own children know that we will stand against the forces of fear. When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it. In the face of death, let us on our life. As Saint Paul admonished us. Let us not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Yesterday, Hillary and I had the privilege of speaking with some children of other federal employees, children like those who were lost here. And one little girl said something we will never forget. She said, We should all plant *** tree. In memory of the children. So this morning Before we got on the plane to come here at the White House, we planted that tree in honor of the children of Oklahoma. It was *** dogwood with its wonderful spring flower and its deep enduring roots. It embodies the lesson of the Psalms that the life of *** good person. It is like *** tree whose leaf does not wither. My fellow Americans, *** tree takes *** long time to grow. And wounds take *** long time to heal. But we must begin Those who are lost now belong to God. Someday we will be with them. But until that happens, Their legacy Must be our lives. Thank you all and God bless you.