One Boston Day remembers lives lost in marathon bombing 12 years ago

Community members gathered to honor the victims and survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing Tuesday.

The ceremony marked 12 years since two bombs exploded on Boylston Street, near the marathon’s finish line, killing three people and injuring hundreds more. Each year, the community comes together at the site to remember the day.

The sound of bagpipes echoed as the families of some of the victims walked down Boylston Street alongside Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.

Lu Lingzi, Krystal Campbell, and Martin Richard — who was just 8 years old — were killed in the blasts. MIT Police Officer Sean Collier was shot and killed by the bombers several days later.

Dennis Simmonds, a member of the Boston Police Department injured in the Watertown shootout, died a year later.

At 2:49 p.m., exactly 12 years after the bombs detonated, the bell at Old South Church rang.

For Caron Golden, the memory of the day is still fresh.

“I volunteer before the marathon, I do registration,” said Golden. “It was just so scary to hear the noise and nobody knew what it was. People thought it was a car… Nobody assumes it’s nothing like that.”

She was across the street, just feet away from where the bombs detonated.

“My family heard about it and they were trying to call me. All the phone lines were jammed,” said Golden. “You couldn’t even get through to a police line.”

Alett Mekler, a runner, lays flowers every year for the lives lost.

“Someone said ‘get off the course, there’s been a bombing,” said Mekler. “And we were like ‘yeah, okay, okay… Just on this day, it’s important to take a moment and remember those lives lost, those lives affected.”

On this One Day Boston, a promise to never forget as the city looks towards the future.

One Boston Day recognizes the resiliency and generosity of the people of Boston in response to the attack. The tradition encourages acts of kindness.

“April 15, rain, shine, snow, sun. We will be here and we will be here remembering alongside the families,” said Mayor Wu.