It was six months ago this week that the Marathon Bombing happened.  Half a year has passed, yet it still seems like it just happened.  In the six months that have followed there have been fund raisers, updates about survivors and pre-trial hearings.  There have been memorials and milestones.  Time has passed but the pain is still very much there.

“Boston Strong” was the initial rally cry.  Our city was not going to let anyone break our spirit.  Boston Strong appeared on T shirts, banners, bracelets- anything and everything that could be merchandised.  Some of the proceeds went to the One Fund.  I would like to think all of it, but I know better.

A few short months after the Marathon the Bruins were in the Stanley Cup Finals. Boston Strong was everywhere.  And people were starting to tire of hearing and seeing our rally cry.  Last night our beloved Red Sox won the ALCS.  Boston Strong was everywhere again.  Many have asked why and if it is appropriate to associate the Sox victory with the Marathon slogan.

I think it is a perfect fit.  The Red Sox played at 11am the day of the Marathon.  People were coming from Fenway to the finish line- this is a yearly tradition on Patriots Day.  The season was two weeks old.  We expected nothing of this team.  Last year was the worst season generations had ever seen.  We had a new manager, half of the roster was new, and our sell out streak was feared to be ending.  The Sox canceled their game the night of the lockdown.  Upon returning to Fenway, Ortiz, the unofficial Red Sox captain grabbed the microphone and  gave his now infamous cry,  “This is our F**ing city.  Never Forget.  Boston Strong.”  The Red Sox went on to spend their season honoring first responders, survivors and families, raising money for the One Fund and, during the ALCS, the sister of the youngest victim sang with her parish the Star Spangled Banner.

They are the impossible team- scrappy, bearded, hardly known.  But like our city, they were resilient, determined and worked hard day in and day out.  They never gave up.  They wanted to make us proud.

Millions of dollars were lost when businesses shut down in the aftermath of the marathon.  For every play off game area businesses benefit.  That is the gift of our local sports teams to our city.

The Sox gave us a reason to believe, an opportunity to give honor to those who deserved recognition, a reprieve from the trauma of that day.  The Red Sox deserve the Boston Strong title.  They made us all believe again that Boston is Strong.

Here’s to hoping a parade of duck boats will crossing the Marathon finishing line this month.  It seems the only fitting end to this season-  honor for the Sox, the Mayor and an opportunity for Boston to celebrate being Boston Strong.

A great story that echoes my sentiments- ESPN 10/18/2013