Victims Of Terror Attacks Honored In Mass.
BOSTON (CBS) - There were two local events held Sunday to honor victims from 9/11 and the Boston Marathon attack. The bombing in New York strengthened their resolve to work together and help others.
In Abington, the 15th annual Jeff Coombs Memorial Race took over the town. Christie Coombs kept in her thoughts those impacted by the New York attack. "It's devastating on so many levels that we still have to worry about things like that here on our own turf," Coombs said.
She's experienced firsthand the tragedy brought by terrorist attacks. Her husband, Jeff, was on American Airlines Flight 11 that crashed into the World Trade Center.
In Cambridge fallen MIT police officer Sean Collier's spirit was in the air. Collier was shot and killed by the Boston Marathon bombers.
"The kid had an infectious smile," said MIT Police Sgt. Andrew Turco.
His fellow officers raised money for a police academy scholarship in his name.
Robert Parrella was the first recipient. The events in New York were too similar for him. "Of course it brings you back to what happened in Boston, the Boston Marathon but it just comes back to it can happen at any time at any place," Parrella said.
Thirty police cadets from the Plymouth Police Academy joined the hundreds of people in Coombs' race in Abington. Participants there focused on the power of community. "It's all about coming together as a community and giving back," Christie Coombs said.
The Sean Collier Memorial Fund provides scholarships to self-sponsored police academy cadets.
The Jeff Coombs Memorial Foundation helps families who are in financial need because of a death or illness. It also provides scholarships.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports
