THIS IS MARTIN

[OneGrassRoot]

Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2013, 12:22 PM - Edit history (2)

This is Martin Richard, 8. He died in the Boston bombing yesterday. He was at the finish line with his family, waiting for his dad to cross. His mother and little sister were catastrophically injured. He was the student of Rachel Moo, who shared this image.

His message resonates powerfully today.

I'm sharing this as a way of tribute to his too-brief, but immeasurably valuable life by following his example.

(Seen on Facebook) Link to more info about Martin's family, thanks to DUer warrior1.




Link to blog post if you want to share (I often can't share things from DU with apolitical types, as they won't read the content simply because of the website name attached to it).

[warrior1]

1. more about his family

The family destroyed by the Boston bombs: Boy, 8, killed while waiting to give his father a hug at marathon finish line, mother suffered brain injuries and sister aged just 6 lost a leg in atrocity

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309545/Martin-Richard-Boston-Marathon-bombings-victim-aged-8-waiting-father-hug-finish-line.html

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Thank you. I added a link to that info in the OP.

[nessa]

3. Thank you for sharing this. (nt)

.

[Stuart G]

4. Thank You for Shareing This..nt

[uponit7771]

5. Anyone know how the father is doin?! Please keep this family in your good will

[pacalo]

7. A family spokesperson is supposed to give an update sometime today.

I heard this while watching the live feed from a Boston CBS news affiliate from a link provided by brooklynite:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022683723

[Marrah_G]

10. He's probably still in shock

Hopefully the hospital has people on hand helping him through this

[deutsey]

6. I just want to take that little guy in my arms

and give him one big protective hug.

[pacalo]

8. "No more hurting people."

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Intolerable

Simply intolerable.

[hamsterjill]

11. So powerfully sad.

I'm so sorry, Martin, that there are people in this world who don't understand the message you were trying to convey.

Rest in peace, young man, and know that you were wise beyond your years.

My prayers for Martin and his family.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

12. Tragic beyond words

Thank you for posting this.

[joeybee12]

13. Heartbreaking

[colorado_ufo]

14. God bless you, Martin, darling;

may flights of angels take you to your rest and watch over your family.

[gopiscrap]

26. That looks like a First Communion picture

my wife spent 14 years teaching Sacramental Prep in the RC school system. These little folks are so full of life, hope and promise! My heart grieves for him and aches for his family!!!

[joeybee12]

27. I think so, too...

Yeah, he had his whle life to look forward to...it's just too awful for words.

[OneGrassRoot]

29. I heard someone on TV say it is his First Communion picture.

[bottomofthehill]

48. It is his First Communion picture

Dove for Peace
Chalice and Eucharist (with the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end and the end was too soon)
Heart

I think Bread and Grapes symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus

The pictures of Martin make me so very sad.

[tblue]

15. How could anyone do this?!

Poor sweet baby!!!!! I hope his mom and sister are getting through this as best as possible. And the dad. Oh my gosh! Why????????????!!!!!

[Moostache]

16. And once more my soul aches from senseless violence and loss.

I just wish those directly impacted are able to find and receive the help they need both now in the immediate aftermath but more so in the months ahead, when the rest of us forget and return to normal lives and they must piece together the shattered remains of theirs.

Sending out as much empathy as I can muster today and in the weeks ahead...

[calimary]

17. Oh dear God. That's a hand-made First Communion banner he's holding up in the 2nd photo.

Is this the family in which the mom is now hospitalized with head injuries and the little sister lost a leg? I can't even imagine the anguish for that poor dad.

Dear God...

No words...

[anneboleyn]

36. Yes, same family. Breaks my heart too.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. I swear,...if this turns out to be domestic.

This little boy had just run out to hug his dad for finishing the race and gone back to join his mom and sister when the bomb went off.

[nolabear]

19. No more hurting people.

RIP Martin. I hope we can do you proud.

[RebelOne]

20. I am choking up after seeing Martin's photos. n/t

[calimary]

24. Yeah. Me too.

Seems like yesterday MY son was just eight years old, with one of those gap-toothed grins.

[Warren DeMontague]

21. So sad.

Just so very, very sad.

[LeftishBrit]

22. k&r & sobs

[Rex]

23. I am so sorry Martin.

We live in a world that is broken. A savage place so beneath you, rest in peace.

[MissDeeds]

25. Beautiful sentiment

Our world is indeed broken.

[Rex]

28. Thank you. I can't get the image of the man missing his legs

in the wheelchair out of my mind. It is haunting me...but that picture of Martin haunts me even more. I feel guilty like we let him down. My heart is broken for his parents. And my hopes and wishes go out to his mom and sister, both now will have to battle back from injuries without their son/brother.

It is debilitating, the feeling of hopelessness.

[David Zephyr]

30. K&R.

[MatthewStLouis]

31. Very sad. :(

[JI7]

32. there is so much wrong with this

[toby jo]

33. I heard his father today - he sounded... resolute.

What a piece of beauty, 'No more hurting people'.

[Swede Atlanta]

34. I weep.....

So tragic. It brings back my tears from the Newtown massacre.

Children should be free from such wanton, useless violence.

What might this young man have become in life? He might have cured cancer. He might have established peace in the Middle East. He might have just been a great father, husband and friend.

I weep......

[daveMN]

35. "No more hurting people"

Breaks my heart.

How cruel the world is...

[txwhitedove]

37. Beautiful boy. I read this online during lunchtime, and now crying again.

[smirkymonkey]

38. Poor little angel. This poor, poor family!

This is just too tragic for words.

[Cha]

39. thank you, OneGrassRoot~

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. I can't find the words

[Tommy_Carcetti]

41. I read he made that drawing in response to the Trayvon Martin shooting.

Just weird how all these different news stories are connected in a strange way of sorts.

[moondust]

42. Lawrence O'Donnell has a good segment on the family.

LOD is himself from Dorchester and went there for Tuesday's show.

[mokawanis]

43. What a sweetl kid

Hurts to look at the picture. What kind of person murders children? I'll never understand how anyone can resort to that kind of violence and hatred.

[Diclotican]

44. OneGrassRoot

OneGrassRoot

I just want to cry, so many innocent children killed by pepole who do not know other things than murder and killing others... This childrens should not be killed - they should be able to discover the world - to do a difference in the world...

I just want to go to bed and hide for a while...

Diclotican

[OneGrassRoot]

45. I know...

I'm so sorry. It is upsetting beyond words. Young Martin has touched millions of hearts in the last 24 hours with his message of peace; I have to believe he has already made a difference.

{{{{{Diclotican}}}}}

[Diclotican]

46. OneGrassRoot

OneGrassRoot

At least he touched me - and I guess many others the last 24 hours or so...

But it is so sad it should be by his death he could touch others - not by his life and work the next 50-60 year...

I hope they will arrest the ones who did this - and put them where they belong after this horrible murder.. Senseless murders of totaly innocent peopole..



Diclotican

[OneGrassRoot]

47. ...

[a kennedy]

49. His poster is now my sig line.

[OneGrassRoot]

50. THAT is beautiful.