Patriots’ Day defiled

[xchrom]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-bombings-patriots-day-defiled/

The bombings at today’s Boston Marathon would be horrific on any day, but there is something particularly disturbing that they happened on Patriots’ Day. It’s a holiday celebrated only Massachusetts and Maine, but it’s my favorite patriotic holiday, for reasons both historical and personal.

President Obama was right today when he said Patriots’ Day is “a day that celebrates the free and fiercely independent spirit that this great American city of Boston has reflected from the earliest days of our nation.” Though celebrated on the third Monday in April, the actual Patriots’ Day is April 19. It marks the Battles of Lexington and Concord and “the shot heard around the world.” In a sense, it’s our first day as an independent nation, even though we didn’t declare independence until July 4, 1776.

But for many people from Massachusetts, myself included, the day also carries intense personal memories. If I’m honest, my real love is explained by the fact that for several years, my late father and I would catch a Red Sox day-night doubleheader. There was a game in the morning, then we would go out to have lunch and watch the end of the Boston Marathon, and then we’d be back to watch the Red Sox later in the afternoon. Countless families had comparable Patriots’ Day rituals. To celebrate freedom, baseball and the international competition of the marathon all at once was something we could only do in Boston.

At this point, we have no idea who did this. So we don’t know how the significance of this day factored into the decision to commit an act of terror. But it is a horrible defilement of a date treasured by the whole nation, and especially by those of us who have known its joys very personally.

[annabanana]

1. .. grew up in Lexington.

Always marched with the Brownies / Girl Scouts in the morning parade... sometimes really really chilly in the cotton dresses.... Then joined the rest of the family to watch the big afternoon parade, with the bands, and the neighbors in Revolutionary garb manning the Historic Houses around the green..

When I realized that the RW crazies had stolen the day, I cried.

This makes it harder still.

Memories of the Day

climbing the Minuteman statue 1950's:


NOT the Tea Party:


the Senior Girl Scouts, (they got to march in the Afternoon!)


Baby brother in a Tricorn (1958-ish)