The heroes and victims of the Boston Marathon bombings shared the spotlight in poignant remembrances yesterday honoring those who lost their lives 12 years ago in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Carlos Arredondo, captured in an iconic image rushing Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs, from the marathon finish line, received the Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery at a State House ceremony.
Sweeney, a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, gave authorities critical information about the terrorists before the plane crashed into the North Tower.
“I was just doing my duty as a human being,” Arredondo said yesterday.
Bill Richard, whose 8-year-old son Martin died in the bombings that also injured his 7-year-old daughter, Jane, and wife, Denise, read a poem and thanked the families of September 11 victims “for sharing their day.”
And police officers taking part in the annual Tour de Force ride from New York City to Boston to honor the heroes of 9/11 called the last 65 miles of the trip Sean’s Ride, in honor of MIT police officer Sean Collier, who was slain in the aftermath of the bombings.
But it was, after all, a day to remember September 11 victims. In front of the State House, readers beginning with Gov. Deval Patrick recited the names of the more than 200 people from Massachusetts who died in the attacks.
The most touching moments were reserved for relatives of the victims. Matthew T. Sellitto told his “loving son,” Matthew Carmen Sellitto, “May God hold you in the palm of his hands until we meet again.” Sally White told her daughter, Susan Leigh Blair, she was “sorely missed and deeply loved, my friend, my daughter.”
