Boston: Boston Strong

April 15, 2013: Marathon Monday typically brings joy and celebration to Boston, but eight years ago the city was rocked when two bombs exploded near the finish line. Three people tragically lost their lives, hundreds were injured and an MIT police officer was killed in the manhunt for the suspects in the following days.

The response: The Bruins were the first hometown team to return to play following the tragic attacks, as their Marathon Monday game was postponed to Wednesday. Their return to the ice offered the city a sense of normalcy and longtime national anthem singer Rene Rancourt turning it over to the crowd still gives us goosebumps.

• The Red Sox returned to the field on Saturday, April 20th, a day after the last remaining suspect had been apprehended. Pregame ceremonies honored local officers and, of course, fans sang the national anthem in unison. Chills.

• After the ceremonial first pitches were thrown — including tosses from marathon icons Dick and Rick Hoyt — Red Sox legend David Ortiz addressed the crowd. “This is our [bleeping city],” he said. “And nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”

2021: The Red Sox are on the road today, but they’ll don their new Boston Marathon-inspired jerseys at Fenway this weekend. And while we’ll have to wait until at least October for another Marathon Monday, today we remember that we’re always Boston Strong.