UMass Dartmouth’s Boston Marathon Peace Tree and Bench

I recently wrote an article reminding readers and listeners alike that one of the Boston Marathon bombers was a student at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at the time of the attack on April 15, 2013.

Boston Marathon bomber Dzsokhar Tsarnaev happens to be one of the more notorious alumni in that he sits on death row facing punishment for his role in the Patriots Day attack.

Tsarnaev lived at least part of the time he attended UMass Dartmouth on campus at Pine Dale Hall. He studied marine biology before switching to nursing. Pine Dale Hall was not one of the older dorms recently gutted by the university.

The article's point was not to poke fingers in the eye of the university or anyone associated with it. The piece also noted the long list of celebrated alumni to pass through the UMass system over the years.

I spend a great deal of time on the Dartmouth campus and recently noted the ranking of UMass Dartmouth as one of the 2,000 best colleges in the world.

The Boston Marathon Bombing is a part of our history, just as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is a part of the UMass Dartmouth history. The bombing at the connection to UMass was painful for many.

Get our free mobile app

On September 21, 2013, the International Day of Peace, a ceremonial peace tree was planted at the UMass Dartmouth Track Field in honor of those killed and wounded in the Boston Marathon bombing and the medical and public safety officials who responded to the attack.

A bench placed before the ginkgo tree on the hill overlooking the track proclaims the tree's dedication.

Next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing and the planting of the peace tree.