In the face of adversity, humanity’s true colors shine through.
PHOTOS: The Boston Marathon Twin Bombings: What We Know So Far
We saw it during 9/11. It happened after the Newtown, Conn. massacre. And now, we’re witnessing it in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon twin bombings.
While Boston, Mass. might get a rep as a tough town, the love, care and support that the residents have shown to those affected by the bombings is unprecedented and heartwarming.
Take it from Massachusetts District Attorney, Dan Conley:
“In the past 24 hours the city of Boston has shown its strength, its compassion and its determination to see justice done.”
Did this act of terror make you lose your faith in humanity?
PHOTOS: Faith In Humanity: The Most Uplifting Pictures From The Boston Marathon Twin Bombings
Maybe we can help. Check out the heroes of Boston who saved the day…and saved some lives.
The “Hero In A Cowboy Hat” was seen pushing a young man who had his legs blown off to safety. Now, we know his name. And his heartbreaking story. Carlos Arredondo, 53, was at the race to honor his two sons, one who was lost in the Iraq war, and another who had committed suicide just before Christmas 2011. Instead, he found himself saving a life.
Another photo of Arredondo holding a blood soaked American flag. He had come to hand out American flags in the memory of his sons and the others who have lost their lives as a result of the War on Terror that was supposed to help keep us safe. He had only one flag left when the bombs went off, and it had become soaked in blood as he helped the young man.
Police officers patrolling the marathon were the first heroes to respond. Their vigilance no doubt saved many lives. In this now iconic picture, 78-year-old Bill Iffrig falls to the ground from the shockwaves of the bomb. Police later helped him up and he finished his race second in his division. Javier Pagan, far right, was one of those cops. He is a part of the Boston Police Department’s GLBT liaison and his married to a gay NYPD cop who was one of the first responders during the 9/11 attacks. How much do we love this couple!
People weren’t the only heroes of the day. The internet got in on the action too. Google introduced a Person Finder to help loved ones find those they could not get in touch with.
It wouldn’t be right if the sports town didn’t have a football hero. Former Patriots guard Joe Andruzzi was at the Boston Marathon and helped carry a woman to safety.
The heroic attitudes didn’t stop at the marathon. Just a few blocks from where the bombs detonated, a MIT fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta, opened their doors to marathon runners and victims throughout the afternoon.
You want to know what selflessness is? It’s running to the nearest hospital to donate blood after you just ran 26 miles in a marathon. Hero Marathoners. We applaud you.
And of course…the first responders who, without regard for their own safety, worked day and night to save lives and secure the city of Boston.
We applaud you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with Boston.
PHOTOS: Twitter | Getty | Instagram
