April 20, 2000

Yesterday's anniversary service honoring those killed in the Oklahoma City bombing was a moving experience for many throughout the country. A Utah man played an important role in that ceremony. Carole Mikita reports.

"THERE'S A GRANITE POOL, A REFLECTING POOL THAT LIES IN THE MIDDLE OF IT-- IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEMORIAL. THEN CHAIRS MADE OF BRONZE."

And so it began Wednesday morning in Oklahoma City, the five-year anniversary for the bombing victims. Behind the memorial service-- music, to sooth and comfort. It was the music of Utahn Paul Cardall, now a national recording artist.

Paul Cardall, recording artist: "PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THE CEREMONY, THEY WERE PLAYING MY MUSIC. AND THEN, DURING THE CEREMONY WHERE THE FAMILIES WERE ASKED TO GO TO THE EMPTY CHAIRS TO PLACE FLOWERS, TO VISIT IT... THEY WERE PLAYING MY MUSIC AND IT WAS VERY HUMBLING AND EMOTIONAL."

Cardall realizes that for the memorializing of a American tragedy there must have been a great deal of thought behind the choice to use his music. The songs are from "The Christmas Box" album, which followed Richard Paul Evans best-selling novel. Both have comforted people the world over who have lost loved ones.

Paul Cardall: "IT'S A SIMPLE STYLE OF MUSIC THAT SEEMS TO JUST HIT PEOPLE RIGHT AT THE HEART. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE USED IT IN MEMORIAL SITUATIONS. TO HAVE MUSIC THAT I'VE CREATED AT THE MEMORIAL IN OKLAHOMA, IT'S JUST A PHENOMINAL COMPLIMENT."

His compositions are part of the healing process for not only a city, but the nation. Paul Cardall says this will inspire him to write works that continue to reach people's hearts.