Boston Marathon Bombing

What could possibly happen after a 26 mile marathon? Cheering? Celebrating? No, bombing.

Two bombs struck near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, turning a celebration into a bloody scene of destruction. What should have been triumphant cheers of satisfaction was instantaneously transformed into blood curdling screams of pain.

Imagine yourself, exhausted and drained after an exhausting 26 mile marathon, about to cross the finish line when a thundering roar explodes across the area. Before you know it, widespread screaming and chaos, shattered windows and barricades and smoke is sent billowing into the air. That’s exactly what happened.

Bill Iffrig, 78 and a veteran marathoner, was nearing the finish when “the shock waves just hit my whole body and my legs just started jittering around.” Iffrig, who can be seen in video of the explosion wearing an orange tank top, was helped to his feet by an event volunteer and had just a scratch from his fall, he told CNN.

“It felt like a huge cannon,” a witness told CNN about one of the blasts.

3 people have been found dead and approximately 144 people have been reported injured by the impact of the bomb with at least 17 of them in critical condition and 25 in serious condition. At least eight of the patients are children.

At least 10 people injured had limbs amputated, many of which had both their legs blown off by the powerful impact, turning the place into a bloody war scene.

Many lost their loved ones that day, while some do not even have the faintest idea where their loved ones are currently. It was a state of confusion and panic, taking lives and injuring people. One day your brother might be at home watching TV and the next day, he could be gone, just like that.

This bombing episode is not a mere terrorist attack but also a harsh, and painful reminder to everyone out there. We never know how much time we have remaining with our family, we never know what God has in store for us. Just like that, loved ones were lost in an unexpected occurrence. Nobody would ever have expected something like that to happen. Therefore it is crucial to treasure every moment with our dear ones, and never take them for granted.

– Vanessa Loh (2C)