PAX Centurion - Special Edition 2013

Page 12 • PAX CENTURION • Special Boston Marathon Bombing Issue 2013 617-989-BPPA (2772) A city rises By Mark A. Bruno, PAX Assistant Editor H ow do you put into words the senseless trag- edy that unfolded at the Boston Marathon? What should have been a fun, celebratory day out for many individuals and their families and friends, turned into a day they will never forget. The chaos and confusion that unfolded on live television was horrific. How could this happen in Boston?Who would want to hurt children?Who would want to hurt innocent people? Marathon Monday is a sacred event in Boston—one that features runners from all over the world. People of all races and religions come together for a fun-spirited competition; a day to enjoy life. Unfortunately, life meant nothing to those responsible for this heinous act. We ex- pect these acts of terror to take place anywhere but here, but that all changed on 9/11. We try to lull ourselves into a false sense of security, but the reality is that acts of terror can be inflicted upon us at anytime, anywhere. For my fellow officers who were at ground zero of this tragic event, nothing can ever prepare you for the chaos and carnage that ensued.You brave officers rose to the call of duty, hitting the ground running, and along with EMS and Fire, managed to save many lives and comfort those who were in shock.You took control of what would become the most horrific crime scene in Boston’s history. It has become Boston’s 9/11. We shared in NewYork’s grief but never felt the sting firsthand until this day. Most amazing was how everyone rose to the occasion; from first responders to regular citizens who helped strangers who were injured from the blast. No one is look- ing for hero-status; everyone was merely doing their jobs. Terror has come to Boston and all of you stepped up to confront it. The pictures show what most Americans consider to be heroes in their eyes. They were not wrong. These pictures were powerful, heartbreaking, and gut wrenching. This was a full-on display of heroes in action. Never have I been more proud to be a Boston Police Officer. I think most officers will agree that dealing with children can be very emotional. Most of us have kids of our own so we understand, as parents, how precious life is. To lose a child is the hardest thing a parent can ever face.Young Martin Richard was the youngest fatality of this attack. This eight-year old boy from Dorchester, full of life and whom everybody loved, had his life stolen.You cannot imagine the impact of the blast on this precious little boy. I thought about this when I went home and saw my kids. I sat alone and cried for this little boy and his family. Cops are human too and we feel the emotional impact of this senseless loss of innocence. Captain Frank Armstrong stood post over this young boy until he was sent to the morgue. Officer Fran Deary and Paul Downey, along with MOP Officers Jimmy Scopa and Billy Zubrin, also stood by with Captain Armstrong at the scene. This young child was given the dignity and respect that a General on the field of battle would get. Officer Scopa stated “there was no way this little boy and young lady were going to lie there alone in the street while a crime scene was processed around them.” Such compassion and dedication is what we have come to expect from all our members. At the morgue, several officers stood guard and waited for the family to arrive to pay their final respects before they sent him off to the funeral home. Our members saluted the family as they walked in. The Richard family was moved by the respect given to their son. Father Sean Connor, our Chaplain, escorted the family in to see their son’s body. What a heartbreaking scene to hold your child for the last time. As police officers, these episodes drain us emotionally. We are not made of stone like most people think. There isn’t an officer who didn’t cry for this poor little boy and his grief-stricken family. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the Richard family during their unimaginably difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the other victims and their families. The BPPA, BPSOF, Detective’s Benevolent Society and Local 718 (Boston Fire) along with several other unions put up a reward of $50,000 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The outrage felt by all these unions brought forth this collaborative effort to catch those responsible for these heinous acts. The ringing theme for all was that we would not cower to terrorism, and our resolve would be swift. Every union leader expressed their condolences to the victims and their families. Martin Richard