Photo: Oklahoma Highway Patrol
A new highway sign on I-35 near Perry, Oklahoma, was unveiled on Friday to honor former Highway Patrol Trooper Charlie Hanger. Thirty years ago, Trooper Hanger pulled over Timothy McVeigh for not having a license plate, unknowingly arresting the man who had just committed the Oklahoma City bombing.
The sign is located at mile marker 202, the exact spot where Hanger stopped McVeigh's yellow Mercury. At the time, Hanger had no idea that McVeigh was involved in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which resulted in the deaths of 168 people. Hanger arrested McVeigh on a weapons possession charge, and days later, McVeigh was linked to the bombing, leading to his conviction and execution.
"It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years," Hanger said at the unveiling ceremony, expressing the emotional weight of the event. Hanger's wife, Beverly, shared that they had been working towards this recognition for a decade. Initially, state law only allowed such signs for deceased individuals, but this changed a few years ago.
Hanger, who remains modest about his role, stated, "It was just doing my job that day." He emphasized that his actions were representative of the daily work of law enforcement officers across the nation. Hanger plans to attend a remembrance ceremony on Saturday for the bombing victims but does not intend to speak.