Bagpipers play the ‘Bell of Dunblane’ as several runners look on and families of the victims boston marathon bombing Earlier Saturday, they walked slowly together to lay a wreath at a memorial site near the finish line to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined Gov. Maura Healey in the sombre procession when the blast occurred, in her first bid for city council.in each commemorative place – Marking the three stone pillars for the three victims – who stood silently with their families. A brief ceremony will be held at the marathon finish line later in the day, when bells will be rung, followed by a moment of silence.
The 127th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday.
“This day will never leave me,” said Jennifer Blake, a 71-year-old real estate agent from Loveland, Ohio, who was watching the parade and recounted how her race in 2013 was cut short by the bombings. Speaking of those who died in the attack. She returned to Boston this year to campaign.
“So much loss, so much pain because of hate,” she continued, tears streaming down her cheeks. “We have to stand up for the people. We have to take care of each other and we have to pray for these families every day.”
Karen Russell from Boston, who stood next to Blake, said she felt it was important to witness the parade, especially on the 10th anniversary.
“Even as we move on, these families are still suffering,” Russell said. “There were a lot of people hurt that day and the pain will never go away. … I feel it’s important to be here and let them know we still care.
Three dead, more than 260 injured When two pressure cooker bombs explode at the marathon finish line. Among the dead were Lu Lingzi, a 23-year-old Boston University graduate student from China; Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant manager from Medford, Mass.; and Martin Richard, 8, who attended the marathon with his family.
MIT police officer Sean Collier was shot dead in his car during an intense four-day manhunt that brought the city to its knees. Boston police officer Dennis Simmonds also died a year after he was injured in the confrontation with the bomber.
Police captured Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a battered man in the Boston suburb of Watertown, hiding on a boat parked in his backyard hours after his older brother died. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, had been involved in a shootout with police and was run over by his brother as he fled.
“I think we’re all living in those miserable days 10 years ago,” former Boston police chief Bill Evans said recently.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death, and in recent years much attention has been focused on his efforts to avoid execution.
A federal appeals court is considering Tsarnaev’s latest application to avoid the execution. A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston heard arguments in the 29-year-old’s case in January but has yet to rule.
An appeals court initially rejected Tsarnaev’s death sentence in 2020, saying the trial judge did not adequately screen jurors for potential bias. But the U.S. Supreme Court restored it last year.
this The First Circuit is now weighing whether Other issues not considered by the Supreme Court require a second throw of the death penalty. Among other things, Tsarnaev said the trial judge erroneously rejected his challenge to two jurors who defense attorneys say lied about the jury’s choice of questioning.
Not only did the bombing unify Boston — “Boston Strong” became the city’s rallying cry — but it inspired many in the running world and prompted many marathons for those affected by the terrorist attacks. At the memorial site on Saturday, several pots marked “Boston Strong” held what came to be known as Marathon daffodils.
“It really inspires and demonstrates the resilience of our sport and our city, and together we want to continue to do better and strengthen the Boston Marathon,” said Jack Fleming, president and CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. “The 2013 bombing brought a new or different awareness of what Boston, the Boston Marathon, has always stood for, which is the expression of the freedom you have when you run.”
On Saturday, the focus will be mostly on remembering the victims and survivors of the bombing, but as Wu said, “really making sure that this is a moment to focus on the future of the city and our communities and our families.”
This sentiment will be reflected in what is known as “One Boston Day,” when victims, survivors and first responders will be honored with acts of kindness and service. This year, there will be nearly two dozen community service projects, including a shoe drive and several food drives, blood drives and community cleanups.
“This time of year brings strong emotions to so many of us and those who were touched by this tragedy a decade ago. But the overarching message is that Boston is indeed strong and our communities help each other in times of need,” West Roxbury Avenue is one of the organizations hosting the shoe event, Jacob Robinson, executive director of West Roxbury Avenue, said in a statement.
—Michael Casey, Associated Press
Associated Press sports writer Jimmy Gollen contributed to this report.
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