My personal perspective Boston Marathon 2013

I was blessed to run my second Boston Marathon. It was a great day, running the course through the many small towns that lead you to the finish in Boston. The crowds were estimated to be over half a million along the route. The cheering and the energy of the crowd pushed you along; it's like no other marathon in the US.

I finished with a time of 2:55:56 and headed to a friend's hotel room that was right above the finish line. I went to the open window to take pictures of the crowd below, wanting to show my friends back home how many people show up to support the runners.

Little did I know, my pictures would capture the area of the first bomb detonation and the devastation it unleashed on innocent lives.

I was standing at the open window, enjoying the warm day and watching the festivities transpire below me. Then, the concussion and sound of the first bomb tore through the air. I felt it in my chest. Immediately, screams and chaos unfolded in the crowd beneath me. Smoke billowed past my window as a second bomb detonated further up the street. The sound of that second bomb raced down the street, echoing off the buildings.

I grabbed my phone and began taking pictures, with little understanding of what had just transpired.

I witnessed the worst of mankind. I'll leave it at that without being explicit.

I share this experience to make sure we never forget our men and women who serve our country and face this on a daily basis. We must also honor our men and women who are the first to respond when tragedy unfolds. Three innocent lives were lost that day, and many others were maimed by this cowardly act.

We must be thankful for each day God has given us to live on this earth.