Boston Marathon was dedicated to Newtown victims

Here’s just one more agonizing aspect of the Boston Marathon bombings, courtesy of The Atlantic:

“Adding further heartbreak to
utter tragedy, the last mile of Monday’s Boston Marathon, which was rocked
by at least two explosions resulting in an unknown number of injuries and
casualties Monday afternoon, was dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook
Elementary shooting massacre.

“Boston Athletic Association president Joanne
Flaminio said
before the race that had
a “special significance” because it was 26.2 miles long and
there was 26 victims in the Newtown attack. There was also a group of Newtown
parents running as part of a group called Team Newtown Strong who were raising
money for local charities. A banner honoring the victims, hung at the end of
the 26th mile, can be seen in the photo above. 

“‘In the first twenty miles
we’re honoring the twenty Sandy Hook first graders,’ Laura Nowacki, a
spokesperson for Newtown Strong, explained
to WBUR Boston. ‘When we crest Heartbreak Hill, and we’re coming back
towards Boston, we run the final six for our six fallen educators, including
their lives, to protect our children.’ 

“There was
a 26-second moment of silence for the victims before the race
started.”