“We run together” is theme of this year’s Boston Marathon

Sara Bistany, Veritas Staff

On Patriot’s Day April 15, 2013 tragedy struck during the annual Boston Marathon when two pressure cooker bombs exploded on Boylston Street. Three people were killed and two hundred sixty four others were injured.

April 15, 2014 will mark the one year anniversary of the tragic incident. Those who were there have not forgotten their experience.

Michelle Gallant who was volunteering in the medical tent stationed at Heartbreak Hill during the bombing said, “It was surreal; people were walking around in shock.”

Soon after the bombing the FBI identified two suspects, Chechen brothers Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Three days later, the suspects allegedly killed an MIT police officer, and initiated an exchange of gunfire with the police in Watertown.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed by the police and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was later found hiding in a boat in the backyard of a Watertown resident; he is currently awaiting trial. The US Attorney General has decided to seek the death penalty in this case.

Many want to know what has been done to provide more security at the marathon this year.

During last year’s marathon the area was checked twice for bombs but people were allowed to carry bags in and out as they pleased.

This year’s marathon will have much stricter restrictions for security purposes.  Backpacks, suitcases and strollers will all be banned.  Vests with pockets and flags of a certain size will also be banned.

Any container that can carry more than one liter of liquid will also be banned from the race.  Runners who wish to run dressed in costume will not be permitted to wear anything covering  their face.

Students at Rockland High School have different views about the safety and security of this year’s race.  Some feel that this year will be safer than past years because of the new security measures while others think it will still be dangerous and that to prevent another attack is not totally possible.

Sophomore Matt Smaller said, “I would feel safer going. I feel that anyone with plans for a terror attack will think twice since it took about seven days to catch the bombers.”

Adam Garden a junior at RHS has a similar opinion. He said,  “Security is much more intense for our safety.”

Sophomore Treasure Smith has a different view. “No, I wouldn’t feel any safer attending the race this year because I feel that another terrorist could plan an attack.”

Despite what happened at last year’s race 25,654 people applied to run in this year’s Boston Marathon.

Fittingly, the slogan for this year’s marathon is: “We run together.”