Boston Marathon Bombing

As the country waits to find out who carried out yesterday's attack on the Boston Marathon and why it was done, it is important to know that yesterday was Patriot's Day, which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord.

Statue of the Lexington Minuteman on the Lexington Green in Lexington, Massachusetts

As the country waits to find out who carried out yesterday's attack on the Boston Marathon and why it was done, it is important to know that yesterday was Patriot's Day, which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord. (You can read into this what you will.)

Here is Wikipedia's description of Patriot's Day:

Patriots' Day (officially Patriots' Day in Massachusetts[1] and Patriot's Day in Maine[2]) is a civic holiday commemorating the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. These were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. It is observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts[3] and Maine[4] (once part of Massachusetts), and is a public school observance day in Wisconsin[5]. Observances and re-enactments of these first battles of the American Revolution occur annually at Lexington Green in Lexington, Massachusetts, (around 6:00 am) and The Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, (around 9:00 am). In the morning, mounted re-enactors (National Lancers - Massachusetts) with state police escorts retrace the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes, calling out warnings the whole way.

Since 1969, the holiday has been observed on the third Monday in April, providing a three-day long weekend, as well as being the first day of public school vacation week in Maine and Massachusetts. Previously, it had been designated as April 19 in observance of the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.

It is also a school holiday for many local colleges and universities, both public and private. In addition, as Patriots' Day is considered a holiday in Maine and Massachusetts, when it falls on a day where United States federal income tax returns would otherwise be due for the remainder of the country, residents of those states are given until midnight of the next day (Tuesday) to submit their return.…

So far, only three people – one an eight-year-old boy – have been reported killed, but many people were seriously injured, and lots of them have apparently lost all or part of limbs.