This is my first April 19th in Oklahoma City, but like every American, I've felt a connection.

I was one of the first reporters at the National Memorial this morning. Even before dawn, people were walking by, laying flowers, paying tribute to those who lost their lives twelve years ago today.

On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a truck filled with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. The bomb went off at 9:02am, ultimately killing 168 people. Another 850 people were injured. The destruction forced 462 people out of their homes. (An entire apartment complex had to be abandoned.) Heroically, more than 12,000 rescuers and volunteers came to assist in whatever way they could.

I've seen the memorial ceremonies over the years on television, but it's hard to grasp just how emotional these moments can be thru a TV screen. Being there changes one's perspective...

The first two patrons I saw stopped by just before 6:00am. They only stayed for about ten minutes, but even from the other side of the reflecting pond, it was easy to share in their grief. They were two women: a mother and a daughter. The two were hovering around one memorial chair, paying their respects to a man who died; to them, that man was a son and a brother. Twelve years after his death, the older woman still couldn't talk about it or him... At least not today.

Throughout the day, Eyewitness News 5 will have team coverage of the Ceremony on Sacred Soil. We'll honor the victims, praise the heroes and remember what happened downtown on that tragic spring morning.

To learn more, visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial website at oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.