City to Host Ceremony Honoring Boston Marathon Victims

The city of Melrose will be having a ceremony and wreath laying to pay tribute to the Boston Marathon victims at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Clarence DeMar Memorial at Ell Pond Park, according to a press statement.

The event, which is open to the public, will honor "those who were killed and injured in the Boston Marathon bombings and to celebrate the Melrose runners in this year's Boston Marathon," reads the statement.

Three people died and more than 100 injured when two bombs detonated near the finish line shortly before 3 p.m. Monday during the race.

The event will begin with a brief ceremony and laying of a wreath at the memorial on Main Street to remember those who were killed and injured, according to the statement. Following the ceremony, the event will shift to the gazebo, where Mayor Rob Dolan will present each of the Melrose runners with a commemorative medal, the statement adds.

"Every year, we have a private celebration, sponsored by my office and the Melrose Running Club, to celebrate Melrose's participation in the Marathon," Dolan said in the statement. "This year, we want to invite every Melrose resident. Although this was obviously a great tragedy, the terrorists also took away something from everyone who ran, which was the opportunity to be cheered and to be recognized for their tremendous achievement. We hope this will show that whoever did this will not deny these runners their moment.

"I hope everyone will come out to recognize these athletes who worked so hard, many of them first-time marathoners, some of whom raised thousands of dollars for everything from cancer research to liver disease to wounded warriors. We want to give them their moment, hopefully with neighbors and family, together as a united community in the wake of this terrible tragedy."

Event Schedule

Remembrance Ceremony, Clarence DeMar Memorial, 

• 9 a.m.: Welcome by Mayor Dolan
• 9:05 a.m.: National Anthem
• 9:10 a.m.: Invocation
• 9:15 a.m.: Remarks by a member of the Melrose clergy
• 9:25 a.m.: Laying of the wreath; moment of silence
• 9:30 a.m.: Award and Recognition Ceremony, Ell Pond Gazebo
• 10 a.m.: Refreshments