Boston Makes Bombing Anniversary A “Goodwill” Holiday

At 2:49 p.m., the city of Boston will commemorate the second anniversary of the attack on the city's marathon. While residents gathered Wednesday morning where the bombs went off in 2013, killing three and hurting more than 200, the city at large is marking a new holiday for community building and service, One Boston Day.  When Mayor Marty Walsh announced in March that he was creating this new holiday, he told local news stations, "It's a day everyone should come together, spread goodwill throughout the city, and recommit ourselves to our deepest values." In addition to morning ceremonies attended by survivors and families of victims, there will be a moment of silence at the exact time of the bombing. According to the event's website, the goal is to encourage people and businesses to "display their humanity and draw neighbors together." Local groups pledged to run special charity drives, while some residents promised to dedicate themselves to being kind to one another. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker also released a statement in honor of the day. In it, he said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, who seek to make sense of that awful day two years ago. In many respects, those most affected by the events of two years ago have shown us all the way back — with their courage, grace, and determination." This anniversary has extra resonance for Bostonians following the end of the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was found guilty on 30 counts related to the bombing and now faces a possible death sentence.