A single word written in white chalk on the pavement by the entrance to the Richard home yesterday in Dorchester, Boston, seemed to sum up the family's ethic.
“Peace,” it said.
And a photograph of the family’s youngest son, Martin, taken some time ago and showing him holding a poster he apparently had made, reinforced the point. “No more hurting people,” it read. And that word “peace” was there again, with two love hearts.
But now eight-year-old Martin Richard is dead, a victim of Monday's bombing of the city's marathon in which his father Bill had been running. Standing with his mother Denise and sister Jane near the finishing line, Martin ran out to hug his father as he passed, before returning to stand with the other spectators just before the bomb went off.
It killed him, damaged one of Jane’s legs so severely that it had to be amputated and inflicted brain damage on Ms Richard.
Yesterday evening, Mr Richard, director of a local community group, issued this statement: “My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries.
“We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin. We also ask for your patience and for your privacy as we work to simultaneously grieve and recover. Thank you.”
The family has strong Irish connections. Ms Richard, who works at a local school, travelled several times to visit relatives in Co Kerry and seven-year-old Jane attends Irish dancing classes.
Yesterday, Irish Dancing Magazine of Elmhurst, Illinois, told people, via its website and Facebook page, that the Richards were associated with the Clifden Irish Dance Academy of Milton, south of Dorchester.
"An Irish dance family has been devastated by the tragedy yesterday in Boston," said IDM .
“The brother, only eight years old, died in the blast. The mom is in the hospital with severe injuries and the beautiful little girl, who is an Irish dancer, has lost her leg. We don’t know any additional information at this time. The only thing you can do is pray. Please do so.”
Yesterday, neighbours of the Richards reacted to their tragedy, describing Martin as a boy full of life and part of a close-knit family.
"They were always together,'' said neighbour Jane Sherman, who lives next door to the Richards on Carruth Street. "This is the worst tragedy I have ever been through in my life. It's a horrific situation.''
Another woman stood on her Carruth Street lawn looking toward the Richard home, her arms crossed across her chest and with tears in her eyes. In a brief conversation, she said she knew the family because they all shared a love for running.
“He was a great little kid, full of life,’’ said the woman, who declined to identify herself. “Always smiling.’’
Makeshift memorial
As word spread among the many friends and acquaintances of the Richard family, children and their parents, neighbours and strangers stopped by the family's home, some leaving flowers, some balloons, and some leaving stuffed animals on the front porch, all adding to the makeshift memorial.
Among those was a regular playmate of Martin, Kaitlyn Lynch, who is in the third grade at the Neighbourhood House Charter School with Martin. Kaitlyn said she played with Martin almost every Friday.
“We always played on Fridays,’’ the eight-year-old said. “We draw together. We draw sports pictures.”
Kaitlyn also said she usually saw Martin’s younger sister when she was at the family’s house, mainly because the sister tried to do everything her big brother did. “She likes playing like Martin,’’ Kaitlyn said. “She’s just like Martin.’’
Neighbour Dan Aguilar said the Richard family was close, and that on most days – regardless of the weather – Martin and his brother Henry were in the family's backyard, playing soccer, hockey or baseball. – (Boston Globe, Irish Dance Magazine, IT foreign desk)