OKC Bombing Survivors Head To NYC for 9/11

Survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing are packing their bags for an annual trip to New York this weekend.

“We often will say ‘I love you, but I wish I never met you,’” said Dot Hill, who lived through the attack on the Murrah Federal Building. She tells News 9 it is important to go to New York every year because they have created a family-like bond that is closer than blood with 9/11 survivors there.

They only meet twice a year, on April 19 and Sept. 11.

Fellow OKC survivor Joanne Hutchison said, “Whether we do anything but just stand there and hug them and listen to them or whatever, we make an impact just by being there with them and it’s the same thing when they come here for us.”

By 2001, survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing were just learning how to live normal lives again. Hutchison says helping others has actually helped them, and 15 years later, 9/11 survivors are now befriending those who lived through the Boston Marathon bombing.

“There are issues that you don’t want to share with your family members,” said Hill. “But this family you know that you can because it’ll be accepted and you know you have to, to help each other to heal.”

Hill believes there will never be an end to global terrorism, but the 4/19 Outreach group is sharing its effects with kids to encourage peace for the future. This year, for the first time, the Oklahomans will also participate in New York, reading names of volunteers and first responders who died on 9/11.

Despite the fears and tears that are guaranteed on this trip, however, the survivors say the hardest part is going back home.

“There is life after the attack,” said Hutchison. “Doesn’t mean you’re ever going to forget what happened.”