Nearly one year ago, one city in America was in disarray.
One city suffered major injuries and three casualties. Now, one city is rebuilding, even if the emotional toll is unfathomable.
On April 15, 2013, the Boston Marathon was underway. With the weather forecast promising sunlight, April 15 seemed like any other spring day.
Until 2:49 p.m.
With nearly 5,000 runners approaching the finish line, two pressure cooker bombs exploded, sending Boylston Street into near oblivion.
Three people died, and approximately 260 people suffered injuries. Limbs were lost. Chaos ensued.
This past April 15, America remembered those who were killed in the Boston Marathon Bombings. Each slain victim had a story to tell. They still had many years left to live and search for the meaning of life.
In an instant, that notion was quelled.
If it weren’t for two perpetrators, the people in the proud city of Boston would be conducting business as usual.
But because of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Boston is stronger. It’s because of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev Boston will never be the same.
The city lost three people on that fateful day in April, but Bostonians gathered together and grew stronger as a collective whole. They learned how to overcome unimaginable circumstances.
The New England-based sports teams also chimed in to offer support.
The Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Revolution are only related to each other because they are Boston’s sports teams.
Nothing else links these teams in unity, except for the fact that they offered a simple message to the city of Boston one year after the horrific attacks: “We’re all on the same team.”
Boston reminds America that resolution after tragedy is possible.
Like Vice President Joe Biden said in a tribute to the Boston Marathon Bombings, “America will never, ever, ever stand down. We are Boston. We are America. We respond, we endure, we overcome and we own the finish line.”
We will never give up.
