Sombre ceremony marks one-year anniversary
BOSTON— Survivors, first responders and family members of those killed came together Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings with solemn ceremonies.
“This day will always be hard, but this place will always be strong,” former mayor Thomas Menino told an invitationonly audience of about 2,500 people gathered at the Hynes Convention Center, not far from the marathon finish line where three people died and more than 260 others were injured on April 15, 2013.
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama observed the anniversary with a private moment of silence at the White House.
“Today, we recognize the incredible courage and leadership of so many Bostonians in the wake of unspeakable tragedy,” Obama said in a statement. “And we offer our deepest gratitude to the coura- geous firefighters, police officers, medical professionals, runners and spectators who, in an instant, displayed the spirit Boston was built on — perseverance, freedom and love.”
Obama said this year’s race, scheduled for April 21, will “show the world the meaning of Boston Strong as a city chooses to run again.”
Earlier in the day, a wreath-laying ceremony drew the families of the three people killed — Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lu Lingzi — as well as relatives of Massachusetts Institute of Technology police Officer Sean Collier, who was killed in the aftermath of the blasts.
Boston police Commissioner William Evans said the anniversary is an emotional day and brings back “some terrible memories.”
“Hopefully, today brings the city and the families some sense of comfort and some healing,” he said.