Oklahoma City bombing remembered

The bombing memorial in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (CNN) -- Against the backdrop of 168 bronze chairs standing in silent tribute to those who died, dignitaries, families, and friends on Friday morning marked the seventh anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

It was the bombing's first anniversary since September 11 and speakers at the memorial ceremony emphasized the experiences that people affected by the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building blast and the September 11 terror attacks hold in common.

"Today is a day about a shared experience. For us in Oklahoma City, it's been seven years, but for others, it's been seven months. ... We offer our hearts and we share our experience," said Linda Lambert, chair of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust.

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Lambert welcomed special guests from New York, including families who lost loved ones on September 11, several New York City firefighters, and members of the New York City Police Department who had been among the first responders to the Oklahoma City bombing.

Bob Bender, the CEO of the Greater New York Chapter of the American Red Cross, also spoke of the "commonality" of the experiences in New York and Oklahoma City.

After the New York terrorist attack, he said, families from Oklahoma City came to New York to work with families who had lost relatives at the World Trade Center.

"We have had a shared experience and it's real," Bender said. "The only difference between New York and here is the scale. How they (the experiences) affect people is exactly alike -- exactly alike."

Oklahoma City's Mayor Kirk Humphreys said, "This past year has brought us tragedy. ... Things have come full circle as we, here, have been able to help our friends across the country with our experience and our encouragement -- to return the favor from seven years ago."

Gov. Frank Keating called for a commitment to brotherhood and tolerance. In his remarks, the governor referred to the "survivor tree," an elm that survived the April 19, 1995, blast, saying that all races, creeds, and colors were gathered under that tree today.

Just before 9 a.m. (10 a.m. EDT), 168 seconds of silence were observed, one second for each victim of the bombing. The silence was broken by the ringing of church bells. The ceremony concluded as family and friends read the names of those who died.

A new exhibit at the memorial, "A Shared Experience," opened Friday. The exhibit has elements from the tragedies in Washington; New York City; Shanksville, Pennsylvania -- where a hijacked plane went down -- and Oklahoma City.