Tragedy Strikes in Boston
By Nick Ostiller
Although the Boston Marathon has been held for over a hundred years, nothing could have prepared the participants for what happened on Monday afternoon. Just over four hours into the race, two explosions near the finish line injured more than a hundred spectators and runners while killing three others.
The race has been run annually in New England since 1897 and usually attracts over half a million spectators each year. Prior to this week, only two deaths had ever been associated with the event. These deaths, caused by a heart attack and over-hydration, were purely related to the conditions of a marathon. Due to what took place on Monday, however, the long-standing event will forever be marred.
The sports world has made an attempt to pay respects to the victims by showing that games are not of utmost importance this week. The Boston Bruins of the NHL cancelled their home game against the Ottawa Senators on Monday night. The Boston Celtics of the NBA made the same decision for their home game on Tuesday.
The Boston Red Sox had just completed their annual Patriots' Day game prior to the explosions, which could be heard from Fenway Park, about a mile away. MLB called the bombings a "horrible occurrence" and said the league is monitoring the situation. Several athletes from various sports joined other high-profile individuals in tweeting their thoughts and prayers on behalf of the victims.
Many runners wore shirts from races they had previously competed in on Tuesday in support of Boston and all who were affected. This act showed that even members of a heavily individual sport could come together during a time of sadness and mourning.
The trauma was felt far beyond the city limits of Boston, as President Barack Obama addressed the nation shortly after the devastating turn of events.
"We will find out why they did this," said Obama. "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice."
The fact that some Boston teams paid tribute to the injured and deceased by canceling games shows that the tragedy goes beyond sports. Human lives were lost for no apparent reason.
An eight-year-old boy was among those killed by the explosions, which occurred just four months after the Sandy Hook shootings. It's sickening how much violence exists in the world today, not just overseas, but even here in the United States. We hear of bombs detonating in the Middle East and other faraway places every day, but we never think it could happen to us, in our own country, at such a joyous occasion like the Boston Marathon. Enough is enough.