7th Wedding Anniversary and the Marathon Bombing

Trent (Creator)

April 2013

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born digital

Scale not given ; 42.3492199,-71.08078055

Our 7th Anniversary and witnessing the bomb and the carnage.

Submission text: On April 15, 2013 my wife, Samantha and I were celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary at the Boston Marathon, as we had done for the six previous anniversaries. I am from Boston and my wife is from Toronto, Ontario (Canada). The wedding date was chosen by her to my chagrin as I am a Boston guy. Boston is the only place to be on the planet when the marathon is in town. we have not missed it since we have been married. On this occasion we did not bring our six and five year old boys as my Canadian in-laws were in town and they agreed to watch our young sons. Once we arrived, at about 12:30 PM, I parked the car and we walked on Exeter street towards Boylston. Standing near the finish line we took in the awesome crowds and could hear the distinct and different accents of people and quickly reveled in the fresh experience of yet another Boston Marathon day. I quickly noticed the giant monitor that was positioned high above on the corner of Boylston and Exeter st. I also noticed that you could text a message (#567890)to the runners. I quickly texted to the monitor "Happy Anniversary Samantha - love You, Trent". Within two minutes I noticed my message coming across the monitor and tapped my wife on the shoulder to view it. This text is still in my phone, I sent this text message at 12:58PM. Yes, another start to great marathon day. We decided to go have a meal so we began to walk away from the finish line and head down Boylston st. toward Pizzeria Uno's, as we have eaten there in the past. But because we were without the children we went to the Thai food restaurant "Typhoon" next door and received a great window seat. As we were seated and watching the runners and enjoying the crowd, Boston being be a small city, friends of ours happened to notice us as they to were walking by and enjoying the day. Shouts of "happy anniversary" could be heard by us and the other restaurant customers. Soon thereafter, we decided to continue our walk toward Fairfield street as we always like to position ourselves there and cheer the runners. Offering inspiration and witnessing the runners turn that corner is always inspiring that area has always worked for us as the marathoners are so close to their personal victory. And as an aside, I always look for the the Hoyt family (father and son in the wheelchair), who have run this race as long as I have been personally witnessing this race. I have been attending at least for the last thirty years, I am now forty six. As we were making our way down the street we would see gaps on the the groups and pause for a short while to take in the event and then we would start to walk again. We made our way and stopped in front of the Starbucks as Samantha wanted a coffee. We innocently entered in and placed our coffee orders and then went back outside to watch the runners. At this time a women was leaning on a great big medal box, which I will assume is the traffic control box that is located in front of the cross walk that is just feet away from a mail box that is also in front of the "Forum" restaurant, and she said to me "you can take this spot". I stepped in and leaned against. Within minutes my wife stated that she needed to use the restroom at Starbucks and stepped away. I continued to watch the runners, but my attention was more concentrated on the Boston Police Officer who was doing the security detail. He was standing almost in front of me and he looked fit for an older guy. I say this because I serve as a police officer also in a suburb within seven miles of Boston, so I was just appreciating his look. Literally seconds later, the first explosion happened and this same police officer began to dart towards Exeter street. As i watched the smoke I quickly thought a transformer or truck must have had an horrific electrical issue and then "Boom"> It was the loudest sound I have ever heard in my life. I was immediately thrown by the volume of the sound. I never fell to the ground but I moved in such a way that I lost my bearings. I soon felt people falling on to me. It was at this moment that it seemed like everything was in slow motion for a quick second. I thought bomb and I also thought suicide bomber. I looked towards the right, where the boom and just occurred and simultaneously the glass shattered from the Starbuck facade. I then realized that my wife was inside. I began to assist people off the ground in an instant I stopped to gather myself and then I stopeed and siad to myself "what am i seeing". I then saw the horrific carnage of that moment. I found my wife and made an exited through the basement of the Starbucks. I did not want to leave. My wife implored for us to go and that we needed to get to our children. In the coming days many area police departments and officers, including myself, assisted the Boston Police as they sought assistance form police department throughout the commonwealth as there initial investigation would require their manpower. While getting ready for the third shift on April 18th, I had just heard the news about an officer being shot but the details were not that clear at that moment. My television had the show "48 Hours" playing and a photograph image appeared. This photo depicted me staring at the carnage. The shock is so apparent in my face. I can only count my blessings as to why my kids did not come that day. I cannot understand why these things happen. Why did my wife make us stop for coffee? Why I was barricaded from the worst of the bomb as I stood against that traffic box. So many questions. I am thankful but always saddened by this day, our 7th wedding anniversary.

Contributor Name: Trent; Contributor Age: 46; Contributor Race: Black; Contributor Gender: Male; Current Location: 01821

Crowdsourced submission originally received via the Our Marathon "Share Your Story" page.

Public submissions
Our Marathon The Boston Bombing Digital Archive

Boston Marathon Bombing, Boston, Mass., 2013

Northeastern University Library

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