On Patriot’s Day, Bill Iffrig, a runner from the Washington State, was just yards away from completing the Boston Marathon, when the first bomb detonated. You can see him in the surveillance video, dressed in a bright orange vest, when the force of the blast crumpled his knees and knocked him to the ground. As the smoke poured over the course, he sat up in a daze. Now, Bill is not just any runner. He is a retired builder who started running in the 1970’s in order to keep in shape for mountain climbing. Over the years, he’s competed in many races, and today he is one of the best in his age group. So he wasn’t going to just sit there. With the help of some EMT’s who had rushed to the scene, he stood up and was able to walk away from the blast zone and across the finish line. Pretty impressive, especially when you consider that Bill Iffrig is 78 years old.

Perhaps Bill was channeling the fighting spirit of the first Patriot’s Day, from way back in 1775. On that day, an old man was standing in his field in Arlington, not far from Boston, when he saw British soldiers hastily retreating from their defeat at Lexington and Concord. Without giving it a second thought, he ambushed them single-handed. He fired first with his musket, then with pistols, and then drew his sword, killing three soldiers. The British returned fire and shot him in the face, knocked him to the ground, and then proceeded to bayonet him a half-dozen times. His family found him soon after. Miraculously, he was still alive. He was taken to a doctor and somehow he recovered. His name was Samuel Whittemore, and like Bill Iffrig, he was 78 years old, making him the oldest known combatant in the American Revolution. He lived another 18 years and died at the age of 96.  Today, he is remembered as the official hero of the state of Massachusetts.

His spirit was in the air yesterday as the city of Boston grieved and found the resolve to keep going. At an interfaith ceremony, folks prayed for the families of the three victims killed, and offered support for the dozens of injured who face long roads ahead. And the tough, fighting soul of Boston was on full display.

Mayor Menino: “Nothing will take us down because we take care of one another. Even with the smell of smoke in the air and blood in the streets and tears in our eyes, we triumphed over that hateful act.”

Governor Patrick: We will grieve our losses and heal. We will rise, and we will endure. We will have accountability without vengeance, vigilance without fear.”

President Obama: “As you begin this long journey of recovery, your city is with you, your commonwealth is with you, your country is with you. We will all be with you as you learn to stand and walk and, yes, run again. Of that, I have no doubt. You will run again.”