The release of Netflix’s new show, American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, has brought back memories of the tragedy that shook the city of Boston in 2013. While the show focuses on the manhunt that followed the bombings, there is another story that emerged from those dark days: President Barack Obama’s “love letter” to Boston.
This is beautifully written and this advice should be embraced by anyone who ever writes a speech: “As a speechwriter, I’ve always tried to write with someone specific in mind — a real, living person the speech should connect with, deeply, emotionally.”https://t.co/xMe1Op4HPv
— Ryan O. Ferguson (@ryanoferguson) April 14, 2023
On April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others. The attack sent shockwaves across the country and prompted a massive response from law enforcement and emergency personnel.
In the aftermath of the bombings, President Obama visited Boston to offer his support and condolences. On April 18, he spoke at an interfaith service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, where he delivered a powerful speech that has since become known as his “love letter” to the city.
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In his speech, President Obama praised the resilience and strength of the people of Boston, and vowed that the city would recover and emerge even stronger. He spoke of the heroism of the first responders and ordinary citizens who rushed to help in the aftermath of the attack, and he paid tribute to the victims and their families.
“Your city is with you, your country is with you,” Obama said. “We will all be with you as you learn to stand and walk and, yes, run again. Of that, I have no doubt. You will run again.”
10 years ago, 8-year-old Martin Richard was among the three killed in the Boston Marathon bombing.
His friends from their Boston neighborhood will honor his memory by running together in the race on Monday. pic.twitter.com/22yWmhPoPu
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 16, 2023
The speech struck a chord with the people of Boston and beyond, and it quickly became a symbol of hope and unity in the face of tragedy. The phrase “Boston Strong” became a rallying cry for the city and a symbol of its resilience.
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In the years since the bombings, the city of Boston has indeed recovered and continued to thrive. The Boston Marathon has continued to be held each year, with even more participants than before the attack.
As American Manhunt brings the events of April 2013 back into the public consciousness, it is worth remembering President Obama’s “love letter” to Boston. It serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is hope and strength to be found in the people around us.
