City calling for acts of kindness for One Boston Day

Two One Boston Day remembrance events on Boylston Street are planned for April 15 to honor the victims, survivors, and first responders of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

Also, more than a dozen One Boston Day volunteer events will be hosted by city departments and neighborhood organizations across Boston, officials said.

Service events range from a shoe drive held by Cradles to Crayons, Parkway Running Club, and West Roxbury Main Streets; to a Dorchester neighborhood cleanup hosted by Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association & John Hancock Investment Management. A full list is available on boston.gov/one-boston.

Residents are encouraged to participate in one of these acts of service or take part in their own act of kindness, Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement.

“Every year we come together on One Boston Day to remember the courage, strength, and resilience shown by our City’s people in 2013,” said Wu. “As we mark ten years, we will gather together in community on April 15 to remember the lives that were lost, the many injured, and the spirit of humanity displayed that day. As we honor those forever impacted, people in all corners of our City will be giving back in a number of ways and I encourage everyone to get involved.”

The City of Boston and the B.A.A. will honor the day with two remembrance events on Boylston Street on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The first will be an early morning private gathering and wreath laying at the memorial sites for the families who lost loved ones at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Honor guards, including the Boston Fire Department, Boston Police Department, Boston Emergency Medical Services, and Suffolk County Sheriff Department’s Honor Guards, will be present at the memorial sites throughout the day.

After the B.A.A. 5K race, the City will open Boylston Street between Dartmouth and Fairfield Streets for members of the public to visit the memorial sites.

At 2:30 p.m., the public is invited to join members of the One Fund Community, Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Wu, first responders, hospital leaders, B.A.A. leadership, and local running groups at the Boston Marathon Finish Line for a dedication of a new commemorative finish line, the ringing of bells, and the unveiling of a One Boston Day marker on Boylston Street.

“As One Boston Day approaches, we continue to honor the strength and resilience of our community,” said Jack Fleming, B.A.A. President and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. “This year, our theme for the Boston Marathon is oneBOSTON, symbolizing the unity and spirit witnessed after April 15, 2013. This year, we will gather on Boylston Street as one with the City of Boston and runners from around the world in reflection and remembrance.”

Desmond Rohan, Board member of Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association, is among community leaders echoing the need for communities to unite and show kindness for others in remembrance of the 2013 attacks.

“That day on April 15, 2013 uprooted our community in many ways but Boston united in strength. Since that day, our communities have continued to come together and give back in their own way to bring people a sense of purpose as reinforced with the Martin Richard Foundation,” said Rohan. “The feeling of giving back in whatever way is a fulfilling feeling for anyone. It’s also a great way to know your community and its citizens.  Boston needs a little love after the winter months and our event of a community cleanup will make our neighborhood shine a little more as we head toward spring.”

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