Group Wants Marathon Route to Bloom Boston Strong
Gardening groups and others will plant daffodils along the entire Boston Marathon route. South End Patch News
Dozens Show They’re ‘Boston Strong’ in Copley
Despite overcast skies, several dozen people donned their “Boston Strong” t-shirts Tuesday in Copley Square after the shirt designers dropped off a check for nearly $ 900,000 with the One Fund Boston. Emerson College students Nicholas Reynolds and Chris Dobens came up with the idea for the shirts hours after the Boston Marathon bombings April 15. They couldn’t have imagined the outpouring of support they’ve seen over nearly two months. On Tuesday, they wanted to gather as many people in their “Boston Strong” shirts as they could for a group photo. “This has been absolutely amazing to see,” said Reynolds. Watch the video above for more. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
American Red Cross Launches New ‘Boston Strong’ Page
The American Red Cross launched a new website one month after the bombings dedicated to helping those affected by the bombings recovery fully. The Red Cross has been involved in the Boston Marathon for decades, usually providing physical relief and care to runners. “Never could I have imagined we’d be talking about a response to the Boston Marathon that included taking a central role in Disaster Mental Health, aid to the families of the injured and deceased, and a role in helping our community heal,” said Jarrett Barrios, CEO, American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts. “But that’s where the volunteers I work with were needed after the Boston Marathon Bombing, and where we stay, offering assistance.” The new web page includes tips for coping through a crisis, supporting the community and offering emotional comfort, public thank-yous to those who have helped the relief effort, and more. You can find the new webpage at redcross.org/bostonstrong. Do you feel like you’ve recovered emotionally from the attack on the marathon? Are you happy to see these tips for others in the community? Tell us in the comments. South End Patch
Crowd at Vigil for Late Officer Vows to be ‘Collier Strong’
On Saturday night, residents said goodbye to one of their own and police officers from across the state saluted the bravery of a member of the thin blue line who made the ultimate sacrifice. Slain Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer Sean Collier’s body was brought down Church Street past thousands who lined the street surrounding Wilmington Town Common and waved American flags as a part of an emotional goodbye. Collier, a Wilmington native and Somerville resident, was honored during a candlelight vigil following the procession. Members of the Collier family attended the event, and sobbed at times as their loved one was recalled. “(Sean) is such an amazing man. A better man than I will ever be. And he was taken from us too early,” said Sean’s brother, Andrew Collier. “Sean is not in that casket. Sean will continue to live on and his legacy will continue to live on. You all will remember Sean, you will all talk about that time the police officer was tragically killed. And you will remember that and continue to do good. And because of that these terrorists will never win. They will never break down the United States, they will never break down Boston and they will never break down Wilmington.” South End Patch
Spaulding To Host ‘Boston Strong’ Celebration Tonight
Though a community open house on Sunday was postponed Friday in the midst of a citywide lockdown and manhunt for suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing, Spaulding Rehabilitation Center will go ahead with other plans to celebrate its grand opening in the Charlestown Navy Yard this weekend. Spaulding representatives had planned to hold a small thank you gala for donors, staff and local and state officials Friday night, but the event was canceled. Following Friday’s arrest, an even bigger celebration has been organized for tonight, with a performance by the Boston Pops, speaker Mayor Tom Menino and a “rousing sing-a-long” of “Sweet Caroline”—a special nod to the city’s “Boston Strong” spirit. “I’ve never been more proud to be part of Boston and Spaulding,” David Storto, president of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, said in a statement. “Our gathering tonight will reaffirm the spirit of resilience both in the people of our city and the drive of our patients and caregivers who never give up.” The recently completed nine-story building at the corner of 16th Street and First Avenue in the Charlestown Navy Yard will provide a new home for the staff and patients currently at 125 Nashua St. The Spaulding network, part of the Partners HealthCare system, offers in- and out-patient services for people recovering from and adapting to a range of issues, including spinal cord and brain injuries, strokes, amputations and burns. Menino himself benefitted from Spaulding’s therapy services late last fall after he suffered a back compression fracture following other health problems. “As a former patient myself, I can personally speak to the amazing care that happens at Spaulding,” Menino said in a statement released Saturday. “While this hospital has been planned for many years, as we all process these past few days, its importance to our region has never been more evident and necessary.” Tonight’s event, which is closed to the public, will include a moment of silence, recognition of Spaulding clinicians—who were among the first responders at the scene of the Boston Marathon bombing—and a singing of “Sweet Caroline” to celebrate “the indomitable spirit of the people of Boston,” according to a statement. The community open house and health fair, previously scheduled for Sunday, April 21, has been postponed. Spaulding spokesman Tim Sullivan said organizers hope to reschedule the event for later this spring, possibly in late May or June. South End Patch
Show The World How We’re Boston Strong
The two bombs may have shaken Boston on Monday, but our spirit is in tact. We’re proud Bostonians – and the whole world has watched as we have risen stronger. President Barack Obama highlighted the Boston spirit on Thursday. “Your resolve is the greatest rebuke to whoever committed this heinous act. If they sought to intimidate us, to terrorize us, to shake us from those values that Deval described, the values that make us who we are, as Americans — well, it should be pretty clear by now that they picked the wrong city to do it. Not here in Boston. Not here in Boston,” he said. The phrase Boston Strong is everywhere as we move on from the tragedy, comfort those who lost loved ones and help those seriously injured on Monday. We do so as one – as Bostonians. We don’t let this tragedy stop us. We packed the TD Garden for the first sporting event in Boston since the bombings – and 18,000 Bostonians sang in unison. We wait for the day when Copley Square is open to the public again so we can flood those stores and show we will not be deterred. Today, people across the area and around the country will celebrate our city and wear our Boston gear during Boston Spirit Day. Today, on Boston Spirit Day, we at Patch are asking our readers – not just in Greater Boston but around the world – to post photos showing them in their Boston gear. Simply click on the upload your photo button and let us where you live. Let’s show everyone how we’re all Boston Strong! South End Patch