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Boston Fans Sing National Anthem During Bruins' Emotional Pregame Ceremony

BOSTON (CBS) -- Security was tight at the TD Garden for the first major sporting event since the Boston Marathon Bombing.

The 17,500 fans who came to Wednesday night's Bruins game were proud to be Americans and prouder still tonight to be Bostonians.

After some carefully selected musical choices that included "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, "Not Afraid" by Eminem and "Walk On" by U2, the Bruins and Sabres took the ice.

Following a slideshow set to the song "Home" by Phillip Phillips, Garden legend Rene Rancourt took his usual spot in the corner of the rink for the national anthem.

Fans wiped tears from their eyes as they sang the anthem. The rendition was loud and stirring, so much so that Rancourt put his microphone down.

Watch Full Video Of National Anthem

"You feel like a Bostonian it makes you feel good," said Vinny Scinicariello. His daughter made a sign reading, "We are brave we are strong, we are Boston."

Her mother said making it helped ease her fears. "It's a little scary for her coming here with everything going on, so we assured her that it would be high alert and it would be something to bring everyone together," said Colette Scinicariello.

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The TD Garden was on high alert with National Guardsmen and added police patrolling, a sign that things changed this week.

But it was a comforting sight for many, including Kate Caruso who ran Monday and wore her marathon jacket to cheer on the Bruins.

"I definitely was a little skeptical about coming to the game tonight, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to," she said.

Then Caruso realized going to the game and moving on with life was the ultimate triumph.

"I think we have to or otherwise they win," she said.

After the emotional national anthem was over, the chants began. Bruins fans, 17,500 strong, yelled "Let's go Boston!"

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Bruins Pregame Slideshow

Bruins Fans Sing National Anthem

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