Today is the running of the 118^th Boston Marathon.

One year ago, on April 15^th, 2013, the “Boston Bombers” killed three innocent people and injured many others. The attack was designed to cause pain, fear, and chaos. It succeeded in causing pain to a number of people, and many people were afraid that day, but then the human spirit, took over and people of every walk of life pulled together to help those injured and in pain.

Boston suddenly had a new slogan as of that day “Boston Strong”. What does that really mean? In an article posted on CNN U.S. on April 15^th, people gathered to remember the bombings and then to stand strong against the terrorist attack.

“Next week, we will run again,” said Tom Grilk, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association. “But on this day, in this place, in remembrance and resolve, we gather as citizens of Boston, Boston strong.”

And this was said by the former mayor of Boston:

“You are strong at this broken place,” former Mayor Tom Menino told the crowd, adding, “the heartbeat of Boston is a mighty force.”

This isn’t just the “heartbeat of Boston” but the collective heartbeat of the American nation. People in this country are generally good and when horrible things happen, the people, the real America comes out, ready to help. This is one of our greatest strengths.

So, today runners will take to the streets of Boston and they will run a marathon. Many of the injured survivors will cheer those than run. They will not let themselves be beaten. Their lives are different now, and I suspect they lean on other survivors and in turn bolstered  themselves. They live and life goes on. They have new obstacles to deal with, but they are over-coming whatever they face.

And, America goes on. It moves forward.