Just over a year ago those phrases meant nothing.
Today, those words symbolize much more than strength.
They symbolize unity.
A city that is standing strong together and a nation that is standing behind one city.
April 15, 2013 changed the city of Boston.
It seemed like any other Boston marathon.
A joyous occasion full of celebration and love until it all went horribly wrong.
April 15, 2013 became a day of tragedy, mourning and grief.
Two bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon resulting in four individuals losing their lives that day with over 260 others wounded in the incident.
What was not wounded that day was the city’s pride.
Boston stood stronger than ever following that tragedy.
This week marked the first anniversary of the bombings and services were held in the city honoring survivors and the memories of those who were lost that day.
A wide range of people took the stage to address the nation from survivors to the former mayor and even the Vice President of the United States.
Thomas Menino, who was mayor of the city at the time of the incident, memorably checked himself out of the hospital that tragic day where he was recovering from surgery to help his city in the aftermath of heartbreak.
He has since moved out of office but has continued helping Boston on the path to recovery.
Menino took the stage Tuesday at Boston’s memorial service and remarked, “This day will always be hard. This place will always be strong.”
One year later, still Boston strong.
But it’s not just Boston that found a deeper source of strength through this tragedy.
It stretched across America.
Vice President Joe Biden spoke Tuesday referring to the strength of the city, the nation and its people.
Some of the most powerful words of the day came from Biden at the conclusion of his speech.
“We are Boston. We are America. We respond. We endure. We overcome and we own the finish line.”
The 118th running of the Boston Marathon will be this Monday, April 21.
The event is held annually on the third Monday in April, which is Patriots’ Day and what better way to show patriotism and the strength of America than by returning to the race, facing fears and owning the finish line.
We are Boston stronger.
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