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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Four 22-foot bronze spires were placed in front of 755 Boylston Street Wednesday morning, completing installation of the first phase of the memorial to the victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Similar work will take place next week at the Boston Marathon finish line.
In addition to the four spires, the memorials will include stone pillars—two at 755 Boylston and one at the finish line—each sourced from materials gathered from places that were special to victims Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, and Lu Lingzi.
The spires were brought in on the back of a truck, unwrapped, lifted into place with a crane, and tightened onto the ground.
For Boston Chief of Operations Patrick Brophy, the day was filled with significance, with years of planning leading up to the installation.
"It's a big moment for Boston, and it's a big moment for everyone who was injured or hurt or lost loved ones here, and I think it will forever change the landscape of Boylston Street," Brophy told WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama.
"The Marathon Markers will be a testament to the spirit and resiliency of the people of Boston, and a way to honor those we have lost, and those who are still healing," Mayor Marty Walsh wrote on Twitter.
People gathered to watch the spires go up, including Russel, a first responder and history buff from Texas who was grateful to watch the process and respectful of its meaning.
"It's nice to see something like this, and to see the city put up these reminders of how the city came together, what they did," he said.
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WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports