The term "Patriots Day deaths" functions as a noun phrase. It primarily refers to the fatalities that occurred on April 15, 2013, as a direct consequence of the Boston Marathon bombing. This phrase specifically identifies the human cost associated with a significant act of terrorism that tragically coincided with the observance of Patriots Day, a historical holiday in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin.
On Patriots Day in 2013, two improvised explosive devices detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, resulting in the immediate deaths of three individuals: Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi, and Martin Richard. In the subsequent days, as law enforcement pursued the perpetrators, MIT Police Officer Sean Collier was fatally shot by the bombers. Although his death occurred after the calendar date of Patriots Day, it is inextricably linked to the sequence of events and the individuals responsible for the marathon attack, and is therefore widely considered part of the overall casualty count associated with the incident. The bombing also inflicted hundreds of injuries, many of which were severe and life-altering for the survivors.
Consequently, "Patriots Day deaths" has become a historically significant phrase, forever linking the traditional commemoration of the Battles of Lexington and Concord with the modern tragedy of the 2013 terrorist attack. It serves as a stark reminder of the lives lost and the profound impact of the event on the city of Boston and the broader nation, fundamentally altering the perception and remembrance of this particular holiday for many.
