BOSTON — Shedding tears and sharing hugs, hundreds gathered Tuesday evening at two vigils to honor the victims of Monday’s terror attack.
They were among the many commemorative events scheduled this week, including a Thursday visit from President Obama.
Several hundred people gathered in Boston Commons in a loosely planned vigil watched over by dozens of National Guard troops.
An a cappella chorus sang the National Anthem and God Bless America before a sign reading “Peace Here and Everywhere.”
Many in attendance were local students. Dozens held candles and flowers in what was largely a quiet and reflective event.
Dan Corrigan, 28, a Boston native, was one of a handful of attendees still sporting the yellow-and-blue marathon race jacket.
“I just felt like I needed to be back in the city,” he said. His mother was standing near the finish line when the bombs went off. She was uninjured “but shaken up,” Corrigan said.
A medical student at Tufts, Corrigan said he is headed to train as an ER physician at Brigham Women’s hospital, one of the many facilities who treated victims.
Monday was his first marathon, but he will run again next year, noting the hospital has a charity team.
“If I can finagle it, I’m going to run it again next year.”
Miles away, in Dorchester, hundreds more filled a park for a vigil for little Martin Richard and his family that was punctuated by tears and hugs.
People in the crowd held small American flags and candles, hugging themselves against the spring chill, as the Rev. John Connolly, a priest from a neighboring parish, remembered the 8-year-old as a “beautiful and gentle soul.
CLICK HERE to read story
article courtesy of usatoday.com
