The 10-year anniversary of the devastating Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people and injured hundreds of others was this Marathon Monday, April 17. But even with a decade having gone by, the phrase “Boston Strong” continues to ring through the air. 

With April 15 deemed “One Boston Day” by former Mayor Marty Walsh, remembrance events are held each year to honor the victims, survivors, and first responders of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The Old South Church Bells ring each year at 2:49 p.m., marking the time the first bomb went off. Two main events were held: one being more private with the families of those killed at the memorial site and one open to the larger public at the newly dedicated blue-and-yellow finish line.

 “One Boston Day” is also a day that the city “come[s] together…to perform acts of kindness to honor those we lost,” according to Mayor Michelle Wu’s One Boston Day message. People from all over showed their respect for the events 10 years ago by planting yellow daffodils along the marathon route, following a checklist of small acts of kindness, and volunteering at food and blood drives. 

On Monday, the race kicked off in Hopkinton. From mile one to the finish line, the sidewalks were filled with spectators despite the rainy conditions. Among the runners was Henry Richard, brother of Boston bombing victim Martin Richard, joined by a group of Martin’s friends and classmates, as this is the first year they were eligible to run.

Simmons first year Anna Gagliastro, who attended the Marathon, watched from the 25 mile mark. “The large crowd was clearly motivating them as they ran by, like the people standing in front of us were just cheering for every random runner with a name on their shirt to help. It was nice seeing such a big group of people come out to celebrate the runners completing such a big life goal,” Gagliastro reflected. 

David “Big Papi” Ortiz, the Hall of Fame fan-favorite former Red Sox player, was named grand marshal of the Boston Marathon this year. Back in 2013, at the first Red Sox game following the bombings, he had taken the microphone to share some words that empowered the city. 

“This is our [expletive] city.”