Bostonians remember deadly marathon bombing 10 years later
- Two pressure-cooker bombs went off at the marathon finish line on April 15, 2013. The bombers were Chechen Kyrgystani-American brothers
- Three people were killed – including Lu Lingzi, a 23-year-old Boston University graduate student from China – and more than 260 were injured
With a bagpiper playing The Bells of Dunblane and a few runners looking on, families of those killed in the Boston Marathon bombing marked the 10th anniversary of the tragedy early on Saturday by slowly walking together to the memorial sites near the finish line and laying wreaths.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who was making her first run for City Council when the bombing happened, joined the sombre procession along with Governor Maura Healey. At each memorial site – marked with three stone pillars – they stood with the families in silence.
Thousands, including many marathon runners in their blue and yellow windbreakers and several former Boston Red Sox players, came out to a second ceremony on Saturday afternoon near the finish line. Church bells were rung and the Boston City Singers and Boston Pops performed Amazing Grace and America the Beautiful.
The 127th running of the Boston Marathon takes place on Monday.
“The day never leaves me,” said Jennifer Black, 71, a property agent from Loveland, Ohio, who was watching the morning procession and recounted how her race in 2013 was cut short due to the bombing and talked about those who died in the attack. She is back in Boston to run this year.
“So much loss, so much pain all because of hate,” she continued, tears streaming down her face. “We have to stand up for people. We have to look out for each other, and we have to pray for these families every day.”
Standing next to Black, Karen Russell, of Boston, said she felt it was important to witness the procession especially on the 10th anniversary.