University mourns the death of alums' child after boston bombings

University mourns the death of alums’ child after boston bombings

04/18/2013

By Kaitlyn Wallace

Comment Staff

The child of two Bridgewater State University alumni was killed along with two others and almost 200 injured in bomb blasts set off during the Boston Marathon.

The American flag raised at half mast in front of Boyden for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Kaitlyn Wallace Photo. — The American flag raised at half staff in front of Boyden for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Kaitlyn Wallace Photo.

According to a report by NBC News, eight-year-old Martin Richard was killed by the explosion that went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15. Martin was the child of William and Denise Richard, both of the Bridgewater State class of 1993. Denise, and Martin’s sister, Jane, were also seriously injured in the blast. According to the report, Denise suffered a brain injury and Jane lost a leg.

Flags are at half staff all over the state this week after two homemade bombs, made from pressure cookers filled with nails and ball-bearings according to a report by the Washington Post, went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Contrary to recent media reports, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday afternoon that no arrests have been made.

Student Government Association (SGA) secretary Gabriella Diniz posted her support for the family on Facebook. SGA is urging the campus community to wear Boston pride or blue and yellow clothing on Thursday “to support not only the family of our alumni, The Richards, but all the victims and responders.”

University President Dana Mohler-Faria posted a letter to the university’s official Facebook page mourning the loss of Martin Richards.

“Words cannot adequately express the sorrow and profound sense of grief we feel for our friends,” the post said.

Bridgewater State University junior Diana Todd left the marathon only about a half hour before the explosions.

“I had been standing right between where the two bombs went off,” she said.

Almost 200 were injured in the blasts at the Boston Marathon on Monday. Used under Creative Commons License. Hahatango Photo.

The Bridgewater State Counseling Center hosted group drop-in hours on April 16 in the campus center for any affected members of the campus community and St. Basil’s Chapel held an interfaith prayer service and candlelight vigil on the same night.

“Our community has been deeply affected by this cowardly act and the resulting tragedy,” Mohler-Faria said on Facebook. “This is a time when we must demonstrate who we are as a community and respond both accordingly and with an outpouring of compassion and love.”

Kaitlyn Wallace is the Comment’s Editor-In-Chief. Follow her on Twitter at @2ndisthebest or email her at imsayingyes@gmail.com. Kayla Lemay contributed to this article.