By Bob Houghtaling

We have heard the term ‘it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon’ used on many occasions. The 2013 Boston Marathon serves as the most salient example for a number of reasons.

Boston

The ghosts of Crispus Attucks,

Samuel Adams and Paul Revere,

waited at the finish line

to offer friends good cheer.

Then smoke and explosions,

like the shells of the past,

fell hard upon the very souls

who were finishing at the last.

Brave Minuteman in uniform

rushed to where the sounds

sent scores of the innocent

hurt and to the ground.

Those who created tumult

avoiding to get caught

continued a reign of terror

which ended up for naught.

But when the dust was settled

this beautiful Boston place

maintained its Constitution

and once again did grace

thousands to the Freedom Trail

and the top of Bunker Hill,

back again to Fenway Park

where “The Splinter” showed his skill.

The memories of the fallen

will be foremost in our mind,

as will the many efforts

of helpers being kind.

The Hub is a special town

that speaks to our hearts.

It’s met many struggles before

yet never came apart.

Orr’s now singing Diamond

as are Russell, Samuelson and Tarzan Brown.

They all cheer the Patriots

who’ve traveled sacred ground.

Come again to next year’s race,

thousands in a throng.

“Please Come to Boston”

like it says so in a song.

Time can produce many changes. Landscapes are altered, people age and events become things sometimes forgotten. But what of courage, love and resilience? While the measures of time move inexorably forward, these will hold true at least as long as our species resides on this planet. On a day in April folks from around the world came to celebrate sport. History will show that much more was on display in an old New England Town. Boston, forever “the city on a hill.”