I recently had the great opportunity to see the movie Patriot’s Day starring Mark Wahlberg. The film tells/shows how the Boston and surrounding communities came together after the Boston Marathon Bombings on April 15, 2013.
Coming from a city 40 miles South of Boston, this was still a very real and scary experience. I still remember leaving softball practice that afternoon and listening to WBZ Radio talk about bombs going off at the finish line and then rushing to my grandparents' house to watch the news. I remember being scared knowing we had family and friends at the marathon as volunteers and as spectators. I remember the fear of not knowing where the bombers were and the search for them. I remember being afraid they could come through Taunton (my town) since major highways connect here. I remember seeing on the news that Boston was “shut down” and it was definitely a strange sight. I remember the sigh of relief when Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured from the boat in Watertown, Massachusetts. I also remember when “Boston Strong” was the new slogan you heard and saw everywhere. I'm sure almost everyone has seen the iconic blue and yellow "BOSTON STRONG" ribbon.
You mess with us, and we’ll kick your ass 100x harder.
The new movie, Patriot’s Day, follows key people during the week of April 15,, 2013. We see the Boston and Watertown Police Departments, as well as MIT Officer Sean Collier. We also meet the Boston Police Commissioner, Boston Mayor, Massachusetts Governor, and the FBI Agents working on the case. We meet survivors of the bombings and hear their stories. The Tsarnaev brothers are obviously a main focus. The movie shows how, despite some small conflicts, the different branches of law enforcement came together to find the bombers. It also shows how the people of Boston stuck by each other during this scary time.
Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
I think that this movie was timely in regards to what has happened between the police and civilians the past few years. I already have enormous respect for the men and women in any kind of uniform but this movie caused me to have even more respect (that I did not think was possible).
I was skeptical going in to actually see the movie since some people feel it is “too soon” or there should not be a film about this event but I loved every second of it. It is a definite must-watch! Be prepared to cry and have your heartstrings pulled but I think everyone should go see this movie.
God Bless the United States of America and thank you to all the men and women in uniform, no matter the color.
Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts after the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings