Listened to someone on the radio bash the Ice Bucket challenge and compare it to the fake Boston Strong movement. So I thought this would be a good time to repost what Boston Strong means to me: It drove me nuts last year during the Red Sox and Bruins’ playoff runs when people would use #BostonStrong to cheer the teams on because that’s not what #BostonStrong means. So what is #BostonStrong? To me it represents a city under attack and instead of fleeing the first responders and spectators ran into the danger to see if they could help. It’s about runners who just finished 26.2 miles run...ning for over two more miles to Mass General to see if they could donate blood. It’s about the city opening up their homes to the displaced runners – people from around the world who were lost, confused, scared and didn’t speak English. But it’s even more than that. It’s about the people along the marathon route that let spectators come into their homes to try and find out information about what was happening because they were cheering a runner on who may have been near the finish line when the bombs exploded. It’s about unspeakable terror and heartbreak….and how the world – not just Boston - responded to it. It’s about the entire city shutting down with the world watching because these cowards will be caught no matter what it takes. It’s about police officers from Chicago and New York offering to come and help make meals for the Boston and Watertown Police Departments during the manhunt. It’s about the police officer bringing two gallons of milk to a family in Watertown that couldn’t leave their house because of the lock down order. It’s about the people lining up and cheering for the police officers after they caught this monster because Boston knows how to throw parades for its heroes. It’s about stadiums all across the country breaking out into “Sweet Caroline.” It’s about athletes putting the victims’ names on their athletic equipment as a sign of tribute. It’s about the sign at the London Marathon one week later that said: “Run if you can, walk if you must, but finish for Boston.” It’s about Rene Rancourt stopping and letting the crowd sing the National Anthem at the B’s game because it’s important to remember that these words have meaning. It’s about David Ortiz letting everyone know that this is our city. It’s about meeting a die-hard group of puck-heads from Toronto during a brutal Bs/Leafs series after the bombing and the first thing they ask you about is Boston and if you were ok. It’s about meeting a victim at a benefit and not being able to find the words so she gave you a BostonStrong bracelet that “will keep you safe.” And it’s about putting that bracelet on your father’s wrist before he goes into emergency surgery and telling him to give it back to you when he gets out because you know the surgeon is wrong and it’s not time to say goodbye yet. It’s about wearing that bracelet today with pride because your father was able to give it back to you. #BostonStrong isn’t about a sporting event. Except for one…. I’ve had the privilege of running in the Boston Marathon and I’ve said in the past that it’s the world’s greatest race but Monday it takes on a brand new meaning because the entire world will be watching. The cowards wanted to make the finish line a place of terror. A place you wouldn’t want to be near. Instead you will run directly towards it. Every step, sweat, tear, clap, water handed to the runners and cheers made by the spectators show those in the world that tried to harm us….they failed. And they always will. #BostonStrong is about Martin Richard, Lu Lingzi, Krystle Campbell, Sean Collier and the over 260 injured. It’s a way of saying we will never forget those who were lost or hurt and we will honor them. They will never stop us from doing that, no matter what they try to do. Monday is Patriot’s Day. It’s no longer a Massachusetts holiday. It belongs to everyone. Because no matter where you are, what team you root for, or what city you live in…..we are all #BostonStrong. That is what #BostonStrong means to me.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:24:57 +0000
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