By now, most of the world knows about the bombs that went off Monday during the Boston Marathon. The bombing left three confirmed dead and more than 150 wounded. One of the fatalities was an eight-year-old boy who was watching the race. Despite the imagery of amputated limbs, blood and people crying, the Hays Free Press found images of hope, help and the resiliency of the human spirit. In many cases, volunteers, spectators and first responders were running toward the blast areas, working feverishly to assist those most impacted by the events of the afternoon. It was a juxtaposition of humanity at its worst and best, simultaneously – those who would do harm and those who put themselves in harm’s way to help others. The marathon takes place each year on a Boston holiday called Patriot’s Day, which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution, at Concord and Lexington, in 1775. The first Boston Marathon took place in 1896. More than 23,000 runners signed up this year. Perhaps there was a message from the culprit or culprits who planted the devices in the significance of the day. But they underestimated us. While the bombs were devastating, they did not destroy us. We will run again. We will keep running and playing and doing what we do because that is what being an American is all about. Adversity can only hold us down for so long. In the end, we rise, shake off our collective self and keep going. It’s the American way.
