Boston Commemorates Resilience on the Anniversary of the Marathon Explosion

On the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, a memorial ceremony was held at the Hynes Convention Center, near the site of last year's attacks. The event was attended by over 2,000 people, including Boston Marathon bombing survivors, their friends, family, law enforcement officers, first responders, political leaders, and 40 members of the MIT community.

Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a dancer who lost a leg in the bombing, emphasized that the anniversary should not just be a day of remembrance, but a day of action. She urged the audience to look around and support people in their area, and suggested that this day should be a day when everyone works together to make the world a better place.

Tom Menino, Boston's former and longest-serving mayor, spoke at the event, recalling the events of last year and expressing the strength of the city. Joe Biden, who spoke at a memorial service for slain MIT Police Officer Sean Collier last year, said today in Boston that he has never witnessed a tribute like the one he heard. As he travels around the world, Biden said, people know all about Boston's courage and resolve.

Patrick Downes, a bombing survivor who lost legs as a result of the bombing, celebrated the care and service that Bostonians have shown each other in the aftermath of the bombings. He expressed gratitude for the community that has formed since the event, and thanked the audience for their continued support. His wife, Jessica Kensky, also a bombing survivor, was present and spoke at the event as well.

The tribute included moving speeches and musical performances by the Boston Pops and Boston Children's Chorus. Adrianne Haslet-Davis expressed gratitude for new friendships, and Biden addressed the injured survivors, saying they have survived and soared, and are inspiring people across the country who have suffered tragedy.

Biden concluded by saying, "We are America. We respond, we endure, we overcome, and we own the finish line." The governor stated that Bostonians are, in the end, one community. Biden said that Boston's solidarity and support have made the city the face of America's resolve, for the whole world to see.

Adrianne Haslet-Davis's new prosthetic limb was designed by a team led by MIT's Hugh Herr. Biden stated that the survivors are living proof that America can never be defeated, and that their stories are a testament to the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity. The event served as a reminder of the resilience and unity of the Boston community, and a call to action for everyone to work together to make the world a better place.