Monday began bright, but ended in tragedy City was truly in lockdown -- authorities responded rapidly "I wasn't afraid at all myself, more just really sad seeing others in fear," he added. "The marathon store I had just been to (the previous night) to pick up my racing top... was in front of the explosion and had its windows blown in. Hoping the awesome and friendly staff are all okay... Seeing the people running and hearing the screams on the replay was just horrible. Hard keeping back tears for those visibly really emotionally or physically damaged." The Boston Marathon is the centerpiece of Boston's celebration of Patriots' Day, a civic holiday that commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Boston Red Sox also play a home game each year on Patriots' Day that begins at 11 a.m. at Fenway Park. Former Oakville Buzz junior B lacrosse player Mark White, his parents, Mike and Susan, and friends Matt Gulliver and Tyler Malenfont attended Monday's Red Sox win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The group then headed to Quincy Market, a tourist area within a mile of the marathon's finish line. "We actually went right by the finish of the Boston Marathon and continued on to Quincy and went in to have lunch," said White, now a student at the University of Southern Maine. Continued from page 3 "The city was truly in lockdown," Chris said. "It was amazing how quickly the authorities responded to the event." Others had finished the race well before the bombs went off but were still in the proximity. Kent, the founder of the Lake Ontario Swim Team (LOST), received an e-mail from a LOST member (Kent chose not to disclose his or her name) detailing how close they were to being in harm's way. "(A runner) and myself were about 150 metres away on our way to collect our medals," the e-mail read. "We're still very shaken!!!" Is everyone in our group okay?" Elite wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy, a Sheridan College graduate who lived in Oakville several years ago before moving out of the area, finished the race approximately two-and-a-half hours before the explosions. He was sitting in a restaurant close to the finish line when he heard the bombs go off. "No one was sure what it was at first, but I got a gut feeling it wasn't good... and I put down my fork cause I couldn't eat," Cassidy said in a release. "Sure enough, moments later you could hear the commotion outside, and out the window were people running from the finish line area, across the street. "Being in a high-tourist area like Quincy (Market)/Faneuil Hall was unnerving, hearing Seeing the people running and the sirens, and seeing everyone glued to their hearing the screams on the replay was (mobile devices) made us think we were at risk," Susan added in an e-mail. just horrible. Hard keeping back tears "It was surreal... A day that began as a chance for those visibly really emotionally or to experience Fenway and other areas of Boston physically damaged. ended in such tragedy." Kavanagh said the bombings wouldn't be enough to deter him and other runners from attempting to qualify for next year's event. "That was my second time, and I can't wait for my third. I'm just more determined to go Josh Cassidy back. Boston is a great, great city, and I just need Elite wheelchair athlete to be part of it again," he said. "It's a world-class event that has traditionally "You could actually hear the explosions. No one been offered and run as a very small-town situknew what it was, so nobody thought anything ation. It's very folksy, everything is just so fanof it. Then somebody said something of a bomb, tastic. It's likely some of that will change from the restaurant threw on the news and everyone a standpoint of security, but that's precisely the reason why I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I'm was in awe watching everything go down. "Then the news mentioned that if you're in determined to go back. "You can't let these horribly tragic, terrible a touristy spot, you should get out of there because I guess there were tips there were other events dictate our world. You cannot justify bombs in the area. So we were like `let's get out cowardice. There is no explanation for it. "I can tell you once again, above all else, I of here now' and tried to scurry out of there as felt and continue to feel fortunate to be there, quickly as possible. "It was tough to get a cab, but we finally did to have been there," he concluded. "But I feel get one. 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