Between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., a flag-raising ceremony and moment of silence will be held at the marathon finish line, to mark the time and place where two bombs exploded on April 15, 2013. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to be among the dignitaries... (Associated Press) 
 
 "This day will always be hard, but this place will always be strong," former Mayor Thomas Menino told an invitation-only 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 a year ago. Deval Patrick, left, along with the Richard family and family members of Lingzi Lu walk with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, second from right, as they attend ceremonies to commemorate the... (Associated Press) 
 
 Police on bikes cycle across the Boston Marathon finish line prior to a remembrance ceremony for family members and survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing on Boylston Street in Boston, Tuesday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 People photograph a banner reading "Boston Strong" as it hangs at Rowes Wharf on the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, Tuesday, April 15, 2014, in Boston. We are America. We respond, we endure, we overcome and we own the finish line." Police say they killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer in the process, and then Tamerlan Tsarnaev was run over by his younger brother, Dzhokhar, as they battled police. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to 30 counts and is scheduled to go on trial in November. Obama: Boston will show it 'chooses to run again' 
 
 "A year ago, tragedy struck at the 117th Boston Marathon," President Obama said in a written statement Tuesday. 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. And when the sun rises over Boylston Street next Monday -- Patriot's Day -- hundreds of thousands will come together to show the world the meaning of Boston Strong as a city chooses to run again." They were also honored at the Hynes center, where the survivors who spoke included newlywed Patrick Downes and dancer Adrianne Haslet-Davis, both of whom lost their lower left legs in the bombings. "You can see how the whole community gathered together to support them and remember," Arredondo told reporters before the program began. The ceremony is being held... (Associated Press) 
 
 Honor Guard members line up in front of the Forum Restaurant in Copley Square, where a wreath laying ceremony was held to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, Tuesday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Massachusetts Gov. Vice President Joe Biden was in Boston for the ceremony, and he said the courage shown by survivors and those who lost loved ones is an inspiration for other Americans dealing with loss and tragedy. And we own the finish line," he concluded, to loud applause. Police investigate bags near finish line 
 
 Hours after Tuesday's anniversary event, a police bomb squad investigated two backpacks near the marathon finish line, cordoning off the area. Authorities seemed to be bracing for the possibility of more bomb scares.
– Boston paused today to mark the one-year anniversary of the marathon bombings, and President Obama was observing a moment of silence at the White House at 2:49pm Eastern. Some quotes from the Boston ceremony, via CNN and AP: Joe Biden: "You are Boston strong. But America is strong," said the VP. "That's what makes us so proud of this city and this state. What makes me so proud to be an American is that we have never, ever yielded to fear. Never." Survivor Patrick Downes: "We would never wish the devastation and pain we have experienced on any of you," said Downes, who lost a leg, as did his new wife. "However, we do wish that all of you, at some point in your lives, feel as loved as we have felt this last year. It has been the most humbling experience of our lives. We hope you feel all the emotion we feel when we say 'thank you.'" Ex-Mayor Thomas Menino: "This day will always be hard, but this place will always be strong." Tom Grilk, Boston Athletic Association: "Next week, we will run again. But on this day, in this place, in remembrance and resolve, we gather as citizens of Boston, Boston strong."