On December 21, a film titled "Patriots Day" is being released to depict the events that occurred on April 15, 2013 at the Boston Marathon. This movie stars Mark Wahlberg; he is an excellent choice for this role, because he is a native of Massachusetts himself. When I first saw the trailer for "Patriots Day" I was filled with anxiety because I felt that it would bring me back to that awful day. Watching the clips brought back the fear, sadness and grief that I experienced.
I remember the day of the event to the best of my memory. I remember I had approached the day with excitement, because I was going to be attending my first Boston Marathon. Several friends and I took the train into Boston so we could wash the finish of the race. We stood close to the finish line, in the midst of pedestrians, children and family members supporting their loved ones running. Runners began to shoot through the finish line and the energy in the crowd was contagious. Then, all of a sudden, everything stopped. What sounded like a massive firework went off to the left of the finish line, leaving a cloud of smoke in the air. Instantly, people began to run and scream. It was a scene in my life that felt like it was directly out of a movie. I went into shock, not really knowing what was happening but knowing I instantly needed to run into safety. My group and I ran into the opposite direction, only to witness another bomb go off. At this point, no one knew what was happening and it was genuinely frightening for everyone.
I eventually made it home safe, after staying in a nearby restaurant for safety while everyone called their families. Once I got home that day, I felt an overwhelming feeling that was a combination of grief, anger and also joy. I felt almost guilty that I had been lucky in the situation, while others who were just as innocent as I was lost their lives or their limbs. I was angry that someone would choose to destroy the happiness that comes with this event that unites people from around the world together, for their own selfish beliefs. I was joyful that I had been spared in this incident, and had a loving family to come home to.
For me, the movie "Patriots Day" is a tribute to those who were affected by the incidents of the Boston Marathon. It is a way for those who were not in Boston for the event to witness the events that occurred. It is a strong message for those who lost their lives or were injured to get revenge for something that they did not deserve to have happen to them. I believe that this film will raise a lot more awareness of this event and I am eager to see how it is portrayed.
For me, the events of the Boston Marathon were extremely dramatic because it is the first time I have experienced terrorism firsthand. I think while many of us know that terrorism does exist in the world, we always assume that it will never happen where we live. Once I experienced this terrorism, it really struck me because I realized that in some countries, people are experiencing events like this each day. It really puts into perspective just how sacred life is and how danger can strike at any moment.
While we remember this event as an awful one in history, this film must remind us of how lucky we are to have the level of security we have in this country. I believe that Mark Wahlberg's character will exhibit how diligent and devoted police officers our countries are today to protecting the lives of citizens. I believe that his role not only will represent police officers that were on duty during the Boston Marathon bombing but across our country today.
