Acts of Kindness After the Boston Marathon Bombings

After hearing about the bombings that took place during the Boston Marathon, I was…well, there are no words for it. I was all at once shocked, frightened, angry, sad, and most of all, disheartened that these bombs killed and wounded innocent civilians–many whom had come to the race after months and years of training. On top of that there were those who had come to offer support to their friends and family at the finish line. 

But while this horrible act may have put me into shock, it also exposed what I had never truly experienced on a large scale before: people flock together during times of crisis. My Tumblr dashboard and Twitter alike were filled with #prayforboston tags. People put aside their differences and their political affiliations and were simply concerned, worried humans talking to other concerned, worried humans.

“We are Boston. We are one community. We will not let terror win,” tweeted Boston Mayor Tom Menino. Take a look at some of the aftermath of the Boston marathon that shows humanity truly is one community, coming together to support one another in our time of need.

Brave first responders

Whether it was the people who broke down marathon barriers to get to the injured seconds after the bombs went off, the medical staff who were unprepared for this scale of carnage, or the doctors who ran the marathon and then volunteered their services, the response to the attack was heroic. “We salute all those who assisted in responding so quickly and professionally to this tragedy,” said President Barack Obama when he addressed the nation on Monday.

Getty Images

Carlos Arredondo

Photo Credit: AP

One of the most graphic, yet gripping, photographs from Monday’s bombing was the ashen-faced man in the wheelchair (now identified as Jeff Bauman) who has lost both of his lower legs, being ran to an ambulance by first responders. The man in the cowboy hat, who in this picture is literally pinching Bauman’s femoral artery shut to prevent blood loss, has been identified as Carlos Arredondo, an immigrant to the United States who has been hailed as a hero for his first response efforts. Running into the crowd as the bombs went off, he used his own shirt as a tourniquet on Bauman and stayed with him, comforting him until emergency workers could help him to an ambulance (source).

Soldiers ran the whole marathon in 40-pound packs, then immediately helped save lives at finish
Photo Credit: Military Friends Foundation 

Excerpt from MotherJones.com, original article here:

“When the explosion went off, Fiola and his group immediately went into tactical mode. “I did a count and told the younger soldiers to stay put,” Fiola says. “Myself and two other soldiers, my top two guys in my normal unit, crossed the street about 100 yards to the metal scaffoldings holding up the row of flags. We just absolutely annihilated the fence and pulled it back so we could see the victims underneath. The doctors and nurses from the medical tent were on the scene in under a minute. We were pulling burning debris off of people so that the medical personnel could get to them and begin triage.”

Marathoners ran straight to the hospital to donate blood

…resulting in enough donated blood that the Red Cross is no longer accepting blood donations.

Google and the Red Cross set up “person finders”

…to assist stranded runners and families find one another, or at least the comfort that each other was safe and well.

Stranded marathoners found solace and shelter with strangers

A Google document was quickly set up, offering complete strangers a place to stay. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 5,500 people had offered their space–and even the comfort of a fuzzy dog to pet. 

New York’s projected image onto the Brooklyn Academy of Music

New York group “The Illuminator” projected messages of peace onto the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Dr. Rogers’ quote seems to have never been more pertinent

Always remember the good outweighs the bad in this world.

And finally, love among the chaos.