April 15, 2014
Today is the 1 year anniversary of the deadly Boston Marathon bombing, as residents and city officials prepare for a week of mourning, celebration and remembrance.
The Boston Public Library began its commemoration with an exhibit of mementos from the fateful day, which included a collection of T-shirts, signs and hundreds of running shoes left or sent in tribute. Highlighting the exhibit were placards emblazoned with the slogan that 8-year-old Martin Richard wrote in 2012 while studying nonviolence in 2nd grade. “No more hurting people. Peace” the placards read, which was the message the youngster held up in a photo that went viral after last year’s attack. Young Martin was 1 of 3 people killed in the bombing, that injured more than 260.
Runners across the country also staged a charity relay event entitled One Run for Boston. Participants carried a baton thousands of miles through the desert, along rivers, through downtowns, along highways and finally through the streets of Boston, where survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing carried it over the finish line to the applause, cheers and tears of many.
Boston’s emotional week of commemoration will begin today with a large ceremony honoring the victims, first responders, medical personnel and others affected by the attack. It will be a chance to mourn the dead and remember the bloodshed, but also to proclaim that despite the horror of last year, the historic marathon will continue for a 118th year.
Fundraisers, panel discussions and smaller ceremonies at hospitals and additional locations throughout the city are also planned, before the marathon itself is run April 21st under heightened security. Organizers say 36,000 will be on hand to accommodate this year’s 5,600 runners. Also, the Boston Athletic Association says that instead of the usual half million spectators, at least 1 million are expected to line the marathon route from Hopkinton to Boston.
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Brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were responsible for the bombing as well as the murder several days later of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer during the manhunt. Tamerlan was killed during a shootout with police, and his younger brother Dxhokhar was captured, wounded and bleeding, in suburban Watertown 5 days after the bombings. He faces the death penalty if convicted of the charges against him.
Has it been a year already?? Sending out prayers for the victims and the families.