Saturday, Bridgewater State University will honor Martin Richard, the youngest victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. A statue of Martin will be unveiled in University Park during the 10 a.m. ceremony.
In June, BSU officials announced the Institute for Social Justice would be named for the youngster, whose parents, Bill and Denise Richard, are graduates.
The naming of the institute is a fitting tribute to a youngster who famously shared with the world his message of nonviolence, said former President Dana-Mohler Faria.
“It exemplifies what we know young Martin stood for, and that was peace… and promoting justice,” he said at the press conference held to announce the renaming of the institute and details concerning the statue.
At the same press conference, Bill Richard read a statement, calling the university’s tribute to their son “deeply moving.”
“This has long been a special place for us, and on some level, where our family began. It seems only fitting that it also be a place where it endures,” Mr. Richard said.
As part of Saturday’s ceremony, people are invited to take a pledge in Martin’s name. The pledge reads: “In honor of Martin Richard, and to advance the cause of peace and justice, I pledge to _____________.”
People are invited to video-record their pledge and share it with the hashtag, #BSUpeace.
Read the full story covering the naming of the Institute for Social Justice after Martin Richard.