Boston Marathon Bombing Victims Remembered At Somber Ceremonies
BOSTON (CBS) – Residents throughout the City of Boston paused for a moment of silence recognizing the third anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Church bells rang throughout the city as residents bowed their heads for the moment of silence at 2:49 p.m., three years after the first of two bombs went off near the Boston Marathon finish line.
Earlier in the day the city marked the somber anniversary of the 2013 marathon bombings with a wreath laying ceremony.
Related: 'One Boston Day' Marks Third Anniversary Of Marathon Bombings
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh led the ceremony outside of Marathon Sports while Gov. Charlie Baker laid a wreath near old Forum Restaurant.
Then, with bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace," Walsh stepped aside to allow 8-year-old Martin Richard's father Bill to place the wreath along with a relative of Lingzi Lu.
Baker was joined by Krystle Campbell's father to lay the wreath outside Forum, which has since closed.
Richard, Lu, and Campbell were killed in the bombings. MIT Officer Sean Collier was killed during the manhunt for the suspects four days later.
Crosses with pictures of each victim were placed on a tree in the area.
A large banner was hung nearby that reads "No more hurting people... Peace," a phrase made famous by Martin Richard.
Members of the Richard family were on hand for the ceremony, as they were in 2015 on the second anniversary.
Photos: One Boston Day Events
Carlos Arredondo, one of countless marathon heroes, was also in attendance. He was wearing one of his signature cowboy hats.
"We've been seeing the resiliency among the family of victims as well as the survivors," said Arredondo.
Jeff Bauman, who lost both of his legs in the bombing, said he had mixed emotions while at the One Boston Day event.
"Personally I feel great, healthy. But it's a very sad day. I have to just keep positive, keep on truckin,'" said Bauman, who called it "amazing" that the anniversary of the bombings has turned in to a day to give back to the community.
Bombing survivor Heather Abbott lost one of her legs in the attacks.
Abbott said returning to Boylston Street is a sign of resiliency.
"Being here kind of represents that the city has survived the attacks of three years ago and we're all doing our best to move on," said Abbott.
WBZ-TV's Jim Smith Reports
The ceremony was a part of One Boston Day, which Mayor Marty Walsh proclaimed will take place annually on April 15.
One Boston Day "encourages random acts of kinds and spreading of goodwill" in an effort to give back to the community that was unified in the aftermath of the bombings.
