Community Corner

Foxborough to Hold Moment of Silence Monday for Marathon Victims

Quiet reflection at 2:50 p.m. Monday will include ringing of church bells and silent observation by Foxborough police and fire personnel at the Foxboro Never Forgets 9/11 Memorial in front of the town's public safety building.

Foxborough will join the city of Boston and other communities throughout Massachusetts Monday in a moment of silence at 2:50 p.m. – the time two bombs went off on Boylston Street near the finish line of the 117th annual Boston Marathon exactly one week ago.

“I am simply asking our residents to stop at 2:50 p.m. on Monday for one minute to reflect quietly regardless of where they are,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. 

The minute of silence at 2:50 p.m. will honor the victims and families of those injured and killed by the terrorist attacks. Following the moment of silence, bells throughout Boston and the state, including Foxborough, will ring, according to a statement from Boston Mayor Tom Menino’s office.

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“In Foxborough, I reached out to several of our Foxborough churches and asked them to ring their church bells for one minute and we think the sound of the church bells will softly remind people during their busy day,” DeVellis said.

Foxborough police and fire, per the request of DeVellis, will gather at the town’s Foxboro Never Forgets 911 Memorial in front of the public safety building on Chestnut Street and observe a one-minute moment of silence for last week’s marathon victims.

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“They very much will welcome anyone that wishes to attend,” DeVellis said. 

Selectman Lynda Walsh has reached out to Foxborough Veteran Agent Michael Johns to request the town’s flag on the Common remain at half-mast until the last funeral ceremony of the Marathon victims is held, according to DeVellis.

The Board of Selectmen chair said he is “very grateful” of all the law enforcement and first responders who assisted Boston and the Greater Boston area in its time of need. 

“Our Foxborough police assisted in Metro Swat and Major Incident Tactical Units and I know they take their positions extremely seriously and for that we are very grateful and sleep better,” DeVellis said. “I also don’t want to forget the many police and public safety officials that live in Foxborough but serve in other cities and towns that worked the aftermath of the event for us all.”

DeVellis said collectively, the town should be “thankful and grateful” for the heroes among us that serve and sacrifice to protect us.

And for one-minute Monday, the town should remember those “who were not as fortunate one week ago,” DeVellis said.


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