Oklahoma Community Connected to 9/11 Memorial Museum

At 8:45 a.m. EST Thursday, the same time Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, the dedication for the 9/11 memorial began.

It is a moment that's close to home for many Oklahomans.

"Those families live on in us. In the families who love them still and the friends who remember always and a nation who will honor them now and forever," said President Barack Obama.

The first time our nation saw a ceremony like this was in Oklahoma City. At the sight, Tom Kight lost his step daughter Frankie along with 167 others in 1995.

"I don't like that word ‘closure'. it really never ends. It's something that you live with," said Kight.

But for Kight, with memories comes peace.

"People that lost their lives are not forgotten. When I'm down there it's just something about it, it's very peaceful. I don't see it as the tragedy, I see peace," said Kight.

Emotions Kight feels wouldn't have occurred if it weren't for the Oklahoma community and the director of the memorial between Harvey and Robinson, Kari Watkins, who has traveled to New York several times to aid the staff at Ground Zero.

"Making sure we explain the horror of the story, but the tenderness of the response," said Watkins, OKC Memorial Executive Director.

Kight has also traveled to New York several times to help comfort the grieving families of the nearly 3,000 victims; a connection initiated by tragedy, but could now be forged in serenity.

"Everybody's different, but the majority of the people can get the same serenity and know their loved ones aren't forgotten," said Kight.

Watkins plans to fly to New York on Monday to continue to motivate the New York staff in its opening week.