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Boston marks first anniversary of Marathon bombing with day of tributes Boston marks first anniversary of Marathon bombing with day of tributes
(about 3 hours later)
Families of the three people who died in the Boston Marathon bombings attended a private ceremony at the spot of the blasts at the start of a day of somber memorials to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy on Tuesday. Survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings spoke of the strength drawn from the huge groundswell of support they have received over the past year, as the city marked the first anniversary of the tragedy in a series of memorials.
Wreaths were laid in front of the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street, where the first of two pressure-cooker bombs was detonated at 2.49pm on 15 April last year. A ceremony to lay wreaths at the spot of the second blast was also staged farther down Boylston Street. Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a dancer who lost her left foot in last year's blasts, told a commemoration at Hynes Convention Center that the “city has supported us and helped us heal. We grew in the face of tremendous loss and adversity.”
More than 260 people were wounded in the blasts. She said the biggest lesson of the past 12 months had been that “something can go terrifically, terribly wrong in a matter of seconds, but that it is up to us to make sure that every second counts. Believe me, they do.”
Among those attending the morning’s tribute were the family of Martin Richard, the youngest of the three killed, who was eight. The family members included Martin’s sister, Jane Richard, seven, who herself lost a leg in the blast. Patrick Downes, who suffered severe leg injuries, said he and his fellow survivors would “never wish the devastation and pain we have experienced on any of you. However we do wish that all of you at some point in your life feel as loved as we have this year. It has been the most humbling experience of our lives.”
Seven days of anniversary commemorations will be held this week, culminating next Monday with the 2014 Boston Marathon. The events began with a private ceremony on Tuesday morning at the spot of the blasts that occurred when two pressure-cooker bombs were detonated on 15 April last year.
Families of the three people who died in the Boston Marathon bombings laid wreaths in front of the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street where the first blast occurred, and further down the street where the second bomb went off. In addition to the three who died, more than 260 people were wounded in the blasts.
At 2.49pm on Tuesday, the American flag was raised in Boylston Street while bells were tolled in nearby churches. Hundreds of people had assembled in the rain, just as precisely a year ago hundreds of people had gathered at the finishing line of the marathon.
Among those attending the morning’s tribute were the family of Martin Richard, the youngest of the three killed, who was eight. The family members included Martin’s sister, Jane Richard, seven, who herself lost a leg in the blast.
The families of Krystle Campbell, 29, and Lingzi Lu, 23, were also present, as was the family of Sean Collier, a police officer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was shot in the aftermath of the bombings allegedly by the Tsarnaev brothers, Tamerlan and Dzhokar, who are suspected of carrying out the outrage.The families of Krystle Campbell, 29, and Lingzi Lu, 23, were also present, as was the family of Sean Collier, a police officer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was shot in the aftermath of the bombings allegedly by the Tsarnaev brothers, Tamerlan and Dzhokar, who are suspected of carrying out the outrage.
Dzhokar Tsarnaev is being held in a maximum security prison ahead of a trial in which he faces the possible death sentence. Tamerlan died in a shootout with police days after the bombings.Dzhokar Tsarnaev is being held in a maximum security prison ahead of a trial in which he faces the possible death sentence. Tamerlan died in a shootout with police days after the bombings.
In a statement, President Obama said the day would recognize “the incredible courage and leadership of so many Bostonians in the wake of unspeakable tragedy … We stand in awe of the men and women who continue to inspire us – learning to stand, walk, dance and run again. With each new step our country is moved by the resilience of a community and a city.” In an earlier statement, President Obama said the day would recognize “the incredible courage and leadership of so many Bostonians in the wake of unspeakable tragedy … We stand in awe of the men and women who continue to inspire us – learning to stand, walk, dance and run again. With each new step, our country is moved by the resilience of a community and a city.”
Bells will be tolled across the city at 2.49pm to mark the moment of the first blast. A ceremony at noon at Hynes Convention Center will be attended by survivors as well as vice-president Joe Biden, governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick and Thomas Menino, who was mayor of Boston at the time of the bombings. At the Hynes Convention Center service, the vice-president Joe Biden, gave a tub-thumping address in which he told the “twisted, cowardly terrorist who tried to instil fear” that “America will never stand down. We own the finish line.”
At its commemoration of the anniversary, the Boston Globe gathered together many of the victims of the bombing as well as first responders who had come to their assistance for a group photograph. Among them were Carlos Arredondo whose white cowboy hat became a symbol of the courage of the city after he was pictured rushing a grievously wounded Jeff Bauman to hospital. Biden said to the survivors that they were “proof that America can never be defeated. You have become the face of America’s resolve, not unlike 9/11, for the whole world to see. People know all about you, they know who you are, they know your price and courage and resolve.”
Tom Menino, who was mayor of Boston at the time of the bombings, said: “This day will always be hard, but this place will always be strong.”
For its commemoration of the anniversary, the Boston Globe gathered together many of the victims of the bombing as well as first responders who had come to their assistance for a group photograph. Among them were Carlos Arredondo, whose white cowboy hat became a symbol of the courage of the city after he was pictured rushing a grievously wounded Jeff Bauman to hospital.
Arredondo told the Boston Globe: “It’s been a year of grieving, and of moving on with life. Healing through the support of others. It’s been a year of overwhelming kindness. Oh my goodness, the overwhelming kindness.”Arredondo told the Boston Globe: “It’s been a year of grieving, and of moving on with life. Healing through the support of others. It’s been a year of overwhelming kindness. Oh my goodness, the overwhelming kindness.”