Vigil Held For Dorchester Boy Killed In Boston Marathon Bombings
BOSTON (CBS) - Dorchester is a neighborhood filled with emotion. "This was a devastating tragedy to have it happen so close to home and so close you could hear the bang, that is too close to home," said Carol Moruzzi, who attended a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening at Garvey Park.
The field where Moruzzi and hundreds others gathered is where eight-year-old Martin Richard played. Martin was one of the three people killed in Monday's explosions at the Boston Marathon.
Brena Walsh brought her seven-year-old nephew, but says he was worried about being in a crowd. "He was scared to come over here because there is a big crowd of people. He's scared it could happen again," she explained.
Shawn, who played ball with Martin, didn't fully understand what happened, but did have these powerful words for the Richard family. "I'm very sorry for their loss," he said. "I'm sad."
James Gallagher, who grew up in Dorchester, feels deep ties to this area and needed a way to explain the tragedy to his six-year-old daughter. "I said 'do you know why we're here?' She said no," he said. "I said 'we're here because a little boy went to heaven yesterday at a place that maybe we might have been at.'"
Gallagher usually takes his family to the very spot near the finish line, but didn't because his wife wasn't feeling well.
As tears were shed for Martin, prayers were said for his sister and mother, both badly injured in the bombings. Senator Elizabeth Warren met with close family friends earlier Tuesday and wanted to be at the vigil to show her support. "Our children are supposed to laugh and dance and survive us. That makes this so hard that's why we're here together. We're here to share that," she said.
After remarks and prayer led by Father John Connolly of St. Brendan Parish, the crowd sang part of the National Anthem. Many held small American flags in a show of patriotism. Father Connolly said the family, which attends St. Ann Parish, has yet to make funeral arrangements. The father, Bill Richard is dealing with the injuries to his wife and daughter.
Like so many who came to show support, James Gallagher wanted Bill Richard and other loved ones to know they're not alone. "My heart and prayers are with the family," he said
