Foxborough Resident, Friends Send Love to Boston from Vigil in New York

Hiliary Carlson, 21, may attend college in New York but her heart belongs to her home in Foxborough and her hometown city of Boston.

Carlson's pride and love for Boston has been ever present this week as she has participated in two Run for Boston events in the area and held her own candlelight vigil with several of her Hartwick College classmates on the porch of her Oneonta, N.Y. house.

Carlson, a junior at Hartwick College, was devastated when she heard the news of Monday’s attacks on the Boston Marathon and immediately wanted to immediately return home to help those suffering in the aftermath of two deadly bombings near the finish line on Boylston Street.

“I was immediately panicked about all of my family and friends that had attended the event,” Carlson said after receiving the devastating phone call from her mother in Foxborough. “I had many loved ones at this event, including Foxborough’s runner, Alyssa Solomon.”   

“I had immediately called [Solomon’s] sister after hanging up the phone with my mother and could not believe what I heard on the other line, from the screaming and chaos in the background to Ari screaming, crying to me on the phone and yelling about how she could not find her sister,” Carlson said.

Fortunately, Solomon found her family and made it safely out of the city and back to Foxborough. As day turned to night, Carlson learned her loved ones were safe but the pain of Monday’s tragedy was ever present even though the Shoreline Drive resident was nearly 250 miles away from home.

“My immediate instinct was that I wanted to go home,” Carlson said. “I wanted to go into Boston and try to help out the victims as much as I could but being four hours away was difficult for me to return. I’ve lost much sleep these past few days.”

On Tuesday, Carlson heard of the vigils being held in Boston and was inspired to participate in the services in some way.

“I wanted badly to return to Boston and participate [in the vigils] but once again, the distance was a factor,” Carlson said. “I came up with the idea of bringing the lighting ceremony to Oneonta, N.Y. I and two other Massachusetts girls decided to have our own candlelight vigil out front of my house in Oneonta, N.Y.”

Carlson said a small group of Bostonians, who attend Hartwick College, participated in the small ceremony on her porch to send prayers and love to Boston. Even a few students who live in New York stopped by to send their thoughts and prayers to the victims of Monday’s tragedy.

“It’s amazing how so many people stand behind a city at such a devastating time,” Carlson said.

Carlson, who played field hockey at Foxborough High School before graduating in 2010, currently plays for the Hartwick College field hockey team. On Wednesday, she and her teammates participated in a Run for Boston event at practice. Carlson participated in a second Run for Boston event after practice ended.

“It’s tough being so far away from home when a tragedy such as this one happens, but having something like the Run for Boston helps to know we are all in this together,” Carlson said.

Carlson may be 250 miles away from home but her heart, prayers and thoughts are in Boston with the victims of Monday’s attacks and their families.

“We would like to let our home, the Boston community, know that the students at Hartwick College are thinking of the families involved in these tough times,” Carlson said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this tragic event.”

In Her Words: Carlson Sends Love to Her Home, ‘Boston’

My name is Hiliary Carlson and I am from Foxborough. I am currently at school as a junior business major at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.

I grew up a Bostonian and love everything that Boston represents.

My mother and I always go into Boston pretending we are tourists and walk around the streets and usually always eat lunch at Stephanie's, our favorite restaurant. I have so many great memories of Boston and I will continue to have them even after what has happened.

I'm a giant sports fan and let everyone know where I come from and who I represent. Every time I get called a "Masshole" I always respond, "Yea I'm a Masshole and proud of it."

My friends always tease me about my accent and how I occasionally drop the "where did yah pahk yah cah?"

I always laugh and blush about it but I love that Boston accent. There is something about driving home from school and seeing the ‘Welcome to Massachusetts’ sign that makes me feel home again. Then once I get out of my car and hear those thick accents I can't help but smile and love every second of it.

Seeing that sign, hearing that accent, and seeing the signs for Boston are all friendly comforts of home. 

After receiving a devastating phone call from my mother on Monday afternoon about the tragic happenings at the Boston Marathon I was immediately panicked about all of my family and friends that had attended this event.

The marathon is a giant deal to not only us Bostonians but also the running community all around the country and world who participate and celebrate Patriots Day and running for various great causes. I had many loved ones at this event, including Foxborough's runner, Alyssa Solomon.

I had immediately called her sister after hanging up the phone with my mother, and could not believe what I heard on the other line, from the screaming and chaos in the background to Ari screaming, crying to me on the phone and yelling about how she could not find her sister.

As the day progressed I started hearing from my loved ones that they were safe. I still could not get over the fact that someone would conduct such a horrible act. My immediate instinct was that I wanted to go home. I wanted to go into Boston and try to help out the victims as much as I could, but being four hours away was difficult for me to return.

I've lost much sleep these past few days and on Tuesday I heard of the candle light vigils that were going to be held. I wanted badly to return to Boston and participate, but once again the distance was a factor.

I came up with the idea of bringing the lighting ceremony to Oneonta, N.Y. I and two other Massachusetts girls decided to have our own candle vigil out front of my house in Oneonta, NY.

We would like to let our home, the Boston community, know that the students at Hartwick College are thinking of the families involved in these tough times. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this tragic event. 

Sincerely,

Hiliary Carlson
Shoreline Drive
Foxborough