BOSTON — Maimed survivors of last year’s Boston Marathon bombing stood tall, strong and proud at this year’s finish line Monday.
Two of the most recognizable faces after the horrific terror act — Jeff Bauman and Adrianne Haslet-Davis — were in the stands cheering exhausted runners as they completed the 26.2-mile course.
“It feels great. I feel very safe,’’ said Bauman, whose legs were blown off during last year’s race.
Using crutches and prosthetic legs, Bauman stood alongside pretty dance instructor Haslet-Davis, who had to have her left leg amputated.
Nearby was Carlos Arredondo, who was famously photographed in a cowboy hat rushing to Bauman’s side to help push him in a wheelchair to medics. Arredondo and his wife were handing out miniature American flags Monday.
Another familiar scene along the course: hand-painted signs pleading, “No more hurting people. Peace.”
Those were the very words written by 8-year-old Martin Richard, the bombing’s youngest fatality, on a sign he’d made shortly before his death. A photo of Martin holding that sign went viral after the tragedy.
Martin’s parents and siblings did not attend the race, according to a family spokesman, but about 100 runners competed under the banner of a charity set up in the boy’s memory.
The crowd cheered as an American won the men’s race for the first time in 31 years.
US Olympian Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezighi crossed the finish line first wearing a red and white shirt with blue shorts — the names of the four slain marathon victims written in marker across his runner’s bib.
The names — “Krystle, Lingzi, Martin and Sean” — were a personal tribute to Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi and Martin Richard, who died in the April 15, 2013, bombing, and MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, who was later gunned down in the hunt for the bombing suspects.
“It was not about me. It was about Boston Strong,’’ said Keflezighi, 38. “I am blessed to be an American, and God bless Boston.”
Additional reporting by David K. Li
with Post Wire Services