IT'S BEEN A HECK OF A WEEK!

     Last week was a heck of a week, wasn't it? If you have been living off the grid in a cave somewhere, here's what's been happening.

     Last Monday was Patriot's Day. Patriot's Day is a uniquely Massachusetts state holiday. If you remember your American History, the shot that was heard around the world was fired by British troops in Massachusetts. Much of the revolutionary fervor was birthed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...but I digress.

     One of the Patriot Day traditions is the running of the Boston Marathon. Thousands of runners from around the world come to Boston to run the 26.2 mile marathon. In addition to the runners, are hundreds of thousands of spectators who gather along the marathon route to cheer the runners on and to take in the festival ambience that is the Boston Marathon.

     Shortly before 3:00 p.m. two bombs were exploded on Boylston Street near the finish line. These bomb blasts killed three people, including two colleged aged women and an eight year old boy. In addition, about 260 people were injured. Many of these injuries consited of  limbs being torn off and lacerations caused by flying shrapnel. 

     This horrific incident brought out the best of what is America. Our first responders, Police, Fire and Emergency Medical personnel, rose to the challenge and rushed in to the danger zone while everyone else was running out...as they should have been doing.

     Ordinary Americans stepped up to help the injured by applying tourniquets and administering other first aid and by helping the first responders transport the injured to medical attention. 

     Marathon runners who had just run 26.2 miles ran a couple more miles to the nearest hospital to donate blood for the injured.

     The best of America was on display that day!

     The law enforcement community consisting of federal, state and local agencies sprung into action. They worked around the clock to identify and try to apprehend those who were responsible for the bombings.

     By Thursday, the police identified two persons of interest who were seen on video carrying two back packs in the location of the blasts. There was video showing one of the suspects placing his backpack on the ground along Boylston Street. The Police (FBI) published pictures through the news media, soliciting the people to call them with information if anyone recognized the subjects in the photographs.

Officer Donohoe and Officer Collier

     Thursday night, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Officer Sean Collier was murdered by the suspected "Marathon Bombers" while he was sitting in his patrol car. Another officer, MBTA Transit Officer Richard Donohoe was also shot and critically injured. Both officers were classmates at the same Police Training Academy.

     After these two brave officers were shot, the two suspects carjacked a SUV and it's owner. At some point when the suspects stopped to put gas in the SUV, the owner escaped and police were notified.

     Following the car jacking, police caught up to the carjacked SUV and a shootout ensued. One of the suspects was killed in the shootout. The other suspect escaped. He was captured later, but that story is for a later blog entry.

     Three people are dead, one of which is an eight year old boy! One officer is dead, and another is fighting for his life in a Boston hospital! Hundreds of people are injured, some with severe, life changing injuries! Through it all the people of metropolitan Boston stood tall! The first responders stood tall! The marathon runners stood tall! The best of America was on display that day! That Week!