Do you know what struck me the most about the images coming out of Boston after the blast? It was the divergent directions in which people ran after the first explosion.
Most of them were doing the logical, safe, and sane thing and were running away from the explosions. Which is just what they needed to do.
But what caused me to watch and rewatch particular videos was seeing what the police officers did. They paused, looked around, did a split-second assessment of the situation and then ran toward the trauma. Not away.
I know that it has been discussed countless times that a pro basketball player gets paid millions for merely trotting up and down an expensive piece of hardwood and occasionally launching a ball toward a hoop.
And when the ball goes in? Everyone goes wild. The player is lauded. The player is applauded. The player’s picture is in the paper. The player collects his check loaded with multiplied zeroes and goes on to the next game where he trots up and down a different piece of hardwood and makes a few more wildly cheered baskets. He graciously accepts the applause and the kudos because, boy howdy, can he ever run up and down that floor!
Yay.
But I have never admired LeBron James’ or Michael Jordan’s running abilities anywhere near as much as I have come to admire the running of the police and first responders in Boston. Because they were running toward explosions. Running toward fire. Running toward danger.
They ran despite that fact that no one was on their feet cheering them on. In fact, many of the people around them were quite unable to cheer for anyone because they were watching limbs fly off. They were watching blood flow. They were watching carnage unfold and normalcy unravel.
And still the rescue people ran.
We know that the Boston Marathon is all about running. Men and women train for years to take part in this contest of determination and endurance. But Boston’s lauded contest of speed was this year upstaged by those gritty, determined, fast-thinking, rescue personnel.
They ran straight into the flames, straight into the smoke, straight into the heartache. They didn’t stop to count the personal costs and they didn’t stop to wonder whether what they were doing was wise. They just ran.
And when the hours of the immediate crisis are over?
They’ll go home. They’ll hug their families. They’ll cry, eat, sleep, and pray. And when they go back to work, they’ll collect their abysmally small paychecks and modestly count what they did on that sunny, hideous day in April as just part of their job.
I will be the first to admit that there are some incredibly gifted athletes who have worked hard to be where they are. But still. If I had the option of who I wanted to be near me in the middle of a Boston blast, I wouldn’t select a buff, star athlete. I would choose one of the lowly, low paid, under-admired, under-lauded Boston police officers.
Because when they run, they don’t hear the screams of an adoring arena of fans. They only hear the screams of the dying, the wounded, the frightened.
They hear. And they run. They run into the unraveling.
Becky, I must admit I lost touch of your blog for the past year. You may remember me, Tommy Bennett’s godmother. Since the last time we chatted I had since moved to Boston where I lived for the past 3 1/2 years until I moved back to Durham this past Monday.
I was at the marathon. I was 450ft away from the second bomb. It was a day that went from cheering on runners to pure chaos, terror and disbelief. The sounds I heard that day, the smells and the feeling of the ground shaking I will never forget. The fear I felt in the days to come as my town was on lockdown….two days of not sleeping because of not knowing where the bomber was, was awful. The people who were hurt and those lost…heart-wrenching. However, one thing I saw come out of this tragedy was the beauty and kindness of people. I lived in Boston for sometime and I will admit I always felt it was a cold city when it came to the people…but that day we became one. The love and support and strength of that city came seeping out to raise up the people and families of those hurt/lost. Every cop in that city became a hero and instead of people avoiding them we would walk up and hug them saying thank you. My friend was actually one of the guys who pulled the bomber out of the boat. I never thought I myself would be a part of a terrorist event, but instead of those terrorist instilling fear into me/us…it opened our hearts. It made us unite. It is sad that it takes tragedy to unite people, but it does. If only people would stay as one this world would be a better place. I will forever be BostonStrong!
Alyssa, yes of COURSE I remember you; it’s great to hear from you again!
And what amazing words you have written about the Boston bombing. I can’t even imagine the things you have experience over the past few weeks from the ugliness of the bombing to the beauty of peoples’ kindness and courage.
Thank you so much for sharing your story–it truly inspired me today.
Yes, I would want them by my side if I were ever in a crisis. God bless those who do what they do. Thank you for writing this…so very true!
Angela,
God bless them AND protect them! So grateful for them.
This is so true of all our first responders and also our service men and women who are helping attempt to bring peace in our world. My nephew is a police office and says that he is positive that is the job he was born to do.
Diane,
I love what your nephew said–how wonderful to hear of someone who knows he is called to do what he is doing and so certain that he has found his place in this world.
Becky–well said!
Becky..I second your thoughts on the Boston police officers. I had the privilege of working for 30 years with a large group of firefighters. I saw and heard of many acts of sheer bravery. Even after 30 years, I never lost my admiration for what they do every day.
Jojy, they are definitely heroes in MY book!
Becky, I agree with you 100% but I did see on TV where an ex-Green Bay Packer Player was carrying a woman away from the danger to help. I think given the chance there are many people who can be heros. Thank God for those trained to help. Thank God for the medical people there who saved lives. Thank God for the men who took off their shirts, probably to help someone stop bleeding. Many heroes yesterday. I just read that someone else saw the football player helping too.
Anonymous,
That is WONDERFUL to hear about the Green Bay Packer helping out in Boston–big guy, big heart!
Amen!
Emma,
Yes. A hundred amens!
A very sad day . I think of those who are suffering and grieving.
Jenna,
What started out as such a fun joyful day took a terrible turn, indeed; those people involved will grieve for a long time and we will continue to pray for them for a long time!
Oh, so true! Amen and Amen, Becky!
Sheri,
True, indeed. So thankful for those who serve.
Tears.
Steve,
Yes, indeed.
Well said, my friend…very well said.
Lisa, thank you. Words felt very deeply.
What a touching view!
Sweetpeat,
Thank you. It’s hard to even find the words to talk about that event but I wanted to try!
Yes, very well said…these brave men and women are always our unsung heroes…thank you for “singing” for them here…they were, and often are, our lifelines in the increasing unraveledness.
Caroljean,
It is a great honor to “sing” for them here.
Amen! I agree with you wholeheartedly. (is that one word or two? You will know!) I watched that man in your picture fall over and over as they showed the films over and over. I really want to know he is OK. Very well written as you always are. God bless them all.
I saw that man on the Today show this morning and he is okay! I too needed to know. So sad, so senseless. I too agree with you Becky, well said.
Kathy,
So good to know he is okay; thanks for letting us know!
ncbev,
God bless them all, indeed; it’s a job I couldn’t do. I am so grateful for them all.
Just like the firemen and first responders ran UP the stairs at the WTC on 9-11. I don’t have that kind of courage, at least I don’t think I do. UNLESS my boy was in there, and then, yes. I would run into the very flames of hell to try and save him. Beautifully written post, Becky… I am going to share it on Facebook.
Pam,
Thanks so much for sharing the post on FB. And yes, I understand completely when you say you would run anywhere or do anything to save your child.
I have to let you know that not only police were running to save people, there actually was an ex football player there helping run and save people. He played on the new england patriot,guess he retired,they said he was 36 and was at some convetion that was being held down the street,once he heard the sound he went to help. Plus many other people did help save people too. Sadly I would have been one of those running as fast as I could away,if not frozen in spot. I’ve learned I don’t handle crisis well,though hope maybe with age comes insight and maybe I have grown in that area. Though I am in no hurry to test it out.
want to add i am not trying to down play the courage of the police and emt that were helping but they are also trained to help and save. i think that as well as giving them credit and admiration, the ordinary people whose instincts made them help right along side the police and emt should also be given credit and admiration. I am thankful that we do have police and rescue that can act fast and save peoples lives.
Becky,
It is so great to hear the story of the ex-football player coming to help! I know that many people like him threw aside their own concern for safety and ran in there to do what they could It’s stories like that that make me cry tears of joy instead of sadness!
Oh Becky, how right you are, I have a treasured nephew who is a police officer and also serves on the SWAT team. I cringe everytime I see them running TOWARD danger, because I know that is what he would do in an instant. My son’s best friend all through school (who I unofficially call my son too 🙂 )is an EMT First Responder who does the same, runs into danger. I love these boys (and they are boys to me) so much and I know their salaries are nowhere near what they should be. But as my nephew has told me many times, Aunt Gail, I don’t do it for the money, I do it to help others. They have also both told me to never worry, because God is always with them, even running into danger. God bless our policeman and First Responders, they are special people.
Gail,
Yes, our First Responders are special people and it sounds like your son and his friend are EXTRA special. I know you are proud of them both.
We love them.
Lesley,
And for good reason.
Becky
so very well said!
I’m going to forward an e-mail from Barbara Crafton on the Boston’s bombing…
Mrs. Pam,
Thank you–that was an excellent post by Barbara. She is a gifted writer!