Tributes Mark First Anniversary Of Boston Marathon Bombings
Filed Under:Adrianne Haslet-Davis, Anniversary, Boston Marathon Bombings, CBS Boston, David Yepez, Day of Remembrance, Finish Line, Luis Yepez, Patrick Downes, WBZ
The families of Martin Richard, Lu Lingzi and Krystle Campbell with Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley during a wreath laying ceremony on the one year anniversary of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Emotional tributes marked the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings Tuesday, honoring the three people who died, the more than 260 people who were injured, and the first responders, doctors and nurses who helped them.
Images: Day of Remembrance
Eight-year-old Jane Richard and her older brother Henry, 11, attended the first ceremony outside the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street where their brother, 8-year-old Martin Richard, was killed when the second of the two bombs went off April 15, 2013.
Related: Jane Richard The 'Antidote To The Pain'
Jane lost her left leg in the explosion and her parents were also seriously hurt.
Watch: WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports
The Richards, and the families of Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi and MIT police officer Sean Collier, were joined by Cardinal Sean O'Malley for a brief prayer before Boston Mayor Marty Walsh helped set a wreath at the scene at 8:15 a.m.
Henry and Jane Richard join Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for a wreath laying ceremony outside the Forum restaurant. (WBZ-TV)
A second wreath was laid moments later down the street at the finish line where the first bomb exploded.
THE REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY
Watch: WBZ-TV's Bobby Sisk reports
Families and dignitaries then went to the Hynes Convention Center for an afternoon ceremony to honor the victims and survivors.
Photos: Day Of Remembrance
It began with Keith Lockhart conducting the Boston Pops playing "Hymn for New England" by John Williams. Renese King followed with a stirring rendition of "America the Beautiful."
Boston Athletic Association Executive Director Thomas Grilk then addressed the invitation-only audience of about 2,000 guests, calling for ovations for the medical community, first responders and volunteers.
Crowds outside the Hynes watch the ceremony on a billboard television screen. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Former Boston Mayor Tom Menino took the stage to a standing ovation as well. He spoke about the generosity of people from around the world who donated to the One Fund to help.
Menino also poked fun at himself and his manner of speaking.
"Some of you can't hear me, not because of the fancy way I talk, but because you lost some of your hearing," he said.
SURVIVORS' STORIES
Patrick Downes, who lost his left leg below the knee in the attacks, paid tribute to the first responders, families, strangers and the Red Sox.
"We chose to love and that has made all the difference," he told the audience, before paying tribute to the four "guardian angels."
"Peace. That will be their lasting message to us," Downes said.
"I am so proud to be a Bostonian because I am so proud to be connected to all of you." Patrick Downes hugs his wife. They both lost legs.
— Paula Ebben (@PaulaEbbenWBZ) April 15, 2014
Watch: Patrick Downes Address
Survivors David Yepez and his father Luis paid tribute to the rescuers as well.
"Thank you all for exemplifying the highest qualities in mankind," Luis Yepez said.
Adrianne Haslet-Davis told guests it was difficult to believe that a year has already passed.
Watch: Adrianne Haslet-Davis Address
"Our survivor community is not something any of us have chosen to be a part of, but we are just that, a community," she said. "I am thankful for our friendships."
Haslet-Davis said her one wish was to use this day as a "day of action."
She then spoke about the biggest lesson she's learned in the past year.
"Something in your life, in anyone's life, can go horrifically, terribly wrong in a matter of seconds. Yet it is up to us to make every single second count after, because believe me, they do," she said.
'FACE OF AMERICA'S RESOLVE'
Mayor Walsh and Gov. Deval Patrick both adressed the crowd as well.
"We will never be the same, but are stronger than ever," Walsh said.
"There are no strangers here," Patrick noted. "We are all connected to each other."
Vice President Joe Biden was the final speaker, saying, "I've never never witnessed a tribute like I have today."
"You have become the face of America's resolve for the whole world to see," Biden said.
"I have never witnessed a tribute like I have today" – @VP Joe Biden #wbz #BostonStrong pic.twitter.com/iaEvS9AfKq
— Steven Bognar (@Bogs4NY) April 15, 2014
The ceremony ended with the Boston Children's Choir singing "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
Survivors, families and guests then walked in the rain down Boylston Street to the finish line, where a moment of silence was held at 2:49 p.m., the same time the bombs exploded a year ago.
Transit police officer Dic Donohue, who was nearly killed in the Watertown shootout during the manhunt for the suspects, raised the American flag.
Bagpipes then played as the honor guards from Boston Police, Boston Fire, the State Police and other law enforcement agencies crossed the finish line.
Watch: WBZ-TV's Christina Hager reports
The rain did little to deter the crowds that gathered on Boylston Street for the ceremony and moment of silence.
Watch: WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong reports
President Obama also held a moment of silence at the White House.
"One year later, we also stand in awe of the men and women who continue to inspire us – learning to stand, walk, dance and run again," the president said in a statement Tuesday.
Two survivors, brothers J.P. and Paul Norden, marked the anniversary by attempting to walk the marathon course in the rain.
They left the starting line in Hopkinton around 9:45 a.m. and made it to Newton by 3 p.m.
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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