It took me a little while to process the horrible episode that descended upon my surrogate hometown on Marathon Monday and the week thereafter. I’ve lived in the Boston Area for the better part of my past 10 years and I never could have imagined that something like this would happen there. Words fall short in describing this feeling of disbelief and I doubt that time will bring further understanding as to why it happened.
I’ve come to appreciate that Boston is the definition of what it means to be American. It’s a melting pot, a center for higher learning and innovation, and the heartbeat of Patriotism. After all, Bostonians lead the charge against colonial oppression and fueled the birth of our great nation. I guess if we learned anything from these recent events it’s that you can’t kill Patriotism in these parts; you can only make it stronger! Together we are BOSTON STRONG!
The Duct Tape Kayak Team has decided to include a special silver star on the deck of our kayak as a tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombers and to the unwavering spirit of our beloved city. Four points of the star feature the initials of the four victims lost to this senseless tragedy while the final point features the #1 to represent the strength of our community.
One of the victims, our friend and hero MIT Police Officer Sea Collier, was a member of the MIT Outing Club where I have served as a Sea Kayaking Chair for the past 3 years. He joined our ranks this winter and quickly developed a love for the mountains. I didn’t personally know Sean but I’m sure it would only have been a matter of time before he joined me on a kayaking trip and discovered a love for the ocean too. Being around campus this week made me appreciate that he was a truly amazing person who will be missed by many. Rest softly, our hero in blue, and may we all aspire to be at least half the man that you are!
If you haven’t already, please consider making a donation to The One Fund to help those folks who were injured in the Boston Marathon Bombings.
-Kayak Dave