The month of April provides so many reasons to celebrate! There are several awareness months celebrated in April, including Earth Month, Alcohol Awareness Month, and Autism Acceptance Month. And though technically the seasons changed in March, April just has more of a Spring feeling. The days are longer and warmer, walks along the Navy Yard are far more enjoyable, your taxes are done, Music Bingo is back, you’re tidying up the house or clearing out the closet in the spirit of Spring cleaning, and if you’re lucky to have a patch of grass in Charlestown, maybe you're doing some gardening. It’s a fresh start and the prelude to Summer!
The changing of the seasons and the warmer weather also provide a new slate of sports to watch or partake in. Baseball’s back, the golf clubs get dusted off, the Bruins and Celtics are heading to the playoffs. It’s certainly a busy season for Boston sports fans! However, the marquee sporting event of April in New England is undoubtedly the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. Over a half million runners and spectators travel from all over the world to take part in New England's most widely viewed sporting event.
From 1897-1968, the Boston Marathon was held on Patriots’ Day, April 19, a holiday commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War - the Battles of Lexington and Concord - and recognized only in Massachusetts and Maine. The lone exception was when the 19th fell on Sunday. In those years, the race was held the following day (Monday the 20th). However, in 1969, the holiday was officially moved to the third Monday in April.
The history that underlies the holiday marks a point of pride for many in the Boston area, where re-enactments of the battles occur annually. Patriots' Day is a day to remember and honor the courage and sacrifice of the patriots who fought for American independence, and it has become an important cultural and historical tradition in the United States.
“At its core, Patriots' Day represents a tribute to the city of Boston, its history, culture and people. For one day a year, longtime Bostonians, children and college students pack the streets with one shared purpose: celebrating the city they live in. The Boston Marathon is far more than a 26-mile race. It's a community street carnival. It's a welcome holiday, a harbinger of spring. It's all of those things. There aren't many traditions that survive from generation to generation, and this is one that has." (source)
This year marks the 127th Boston Marathon and the 10th Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing - April 15, 2023. Everyone recalls that tragic day and the terrifying days that followed. Everyone knows someone who was there that day or someone who has been impacted by the events that transpired either directly or indirectly.
The marathon has a rich history and is deeply rooted in Boston's culture. It has become a symbol of the resilience and determination of the city and its people, particularly in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and injured hundreds of others. The marathon is now considered a tribute to those who lost their lives and a celebration of the city's strength and spirit.
In fact, this year, Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston put out a call to action for community-based organizations, businesses, and City of Boston employees and residents to come together for volunteer events and acts of kindness in recognition of our City’s spirit of care for one another in response to the tragic events of April 15, 2013. “One Boston Day,” observed on April 15, recognizes the resiliency, generosity, and strength demonstrated by the people of Boston, and honors the victims, survivors, and first responders of the 2013 Boston Marathon.
“One Boston Day honors those forever impacted on April 15, 2013 and recognizes the greatest strength of this City—our people,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We will never forget the people whose lives were lost, the many injured and forever changed, and the spirit of humanity displayed that day and beyond for those most in need. One Boston Day is a living demonstration of our strength when we come together as one.” (source)
This month we’d like to honor and thank the first responders in our organization who have and continue to serve our community, City and the Commonwealth. These individuals choose to serve in this role professionally, but also charitably through the Bunker Hill Associates and the various other community organizations and initiatives where they volunteer their time.