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Political Leaders Play Important Role In City's Healing

BOSTON (CBS) --- The focus of Tuesday's ceremonies was on the victims, the survivors and the community. But as we've seen so many times before, our political leaders played an important role in this day of remembrance.

From the long-ago days of Franklin Roosevelt calming the nation's fears during the depression with his fireside chats, right up to today, we do look to political leaders for communal reassurance at times of crisis.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports

Political Leaders Play Important Role In City's Healing

When we aren't scorning them, we love to laugh with - or, more often, at them. But after a national shock like the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster, politicians comforted with their eloquence. Or, as President Barack Obama did after the Boston Marathon bombings, helped bind us together.

During Tuesday's tribute, we once again saw politicians striking resonant chords. We've cried for the Richard Family, but Mayor Walsh helped us share a badly-needed laugh with them.

"You didn't hear it from me, but Jane's back playing CYO basketball again," he said, evoking laughter.

With his trademark passion, Gov. Deval Patrick summed up our year of public bonding.

"We are not strangers, we are in the end, one community," he said.

And it was left to a former pol never known for eloquence to illuminate what he called 'the heartbeat of Boston,' the generosity of its people.

"I want you to hear this solemn promise - when the lights are dim and the cameras go away, know that our support and love for you will never waver and whatever you have to do to recover and carry on, know that the people of Boston and I will be right there by your side," Menino said.

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