Celebrants congratulated participants in the 2014 Boston Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Flickr.com)
BOSTON – On Friday, Greater Boston residents will celebrate the second annual “One Boston Day,” which Mayor Marty Walsh officially designated in a proclamation on Monday, commemorating the April 15, 2013, Boston Marathon bombings and the public response spurred by the attack.
“The camaraderie and spirit of togetherness continued beyond that day, and that week, and that year, fostered the essence of togetherness and resiliency,” Walsh said in the proclamation. “The courage shown by Bostonians, both far and near, set in stone the spirit of the city and set the tone for the future.”
A series of events Friday are planned to formally commemorate the bombings near the marathon finish line and the public cohesiveness it engendered, concluding with Walsh leading a “moment of silence” on City Hall plaza at 2:49 p.m., the time when the bombs went off just seconds apart.
Started last year, “One Boston Day” arose from the desire of many survivors and their supporters to sustain the strength they received from the community after the attack.
Residents are encouraged to participate in donation drives and charity events, or simply to engage in “random acts of kindness” and goodwill, and to share their plans for the day at onebostonday.org and with the hashtag #OneBostonDay.
Among other events on Friday, Legacy Place will hold a 1-mile One Boston Day walk for the Greater Boston Food Bank; Boston Marathon bombing survivors and founders of the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Fund will host a blood drive near the marathon finish line on Boylston Street, and the Museum of Science will offer free admission for reflection in the butterfly garden, according to the city.
City Hall also released a video featuring Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and others discussing the purpose of the day. Watch below:
Celebrants congratulated participants in the 2014 Boston Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Flickr.com) 
