By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

This week, we remember the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and its aftermath. On Tuesday, the city held a moment of silence and invited people to the Public Safety Building for reflection, remembrances and memorials, with counselors and staff from the Trauma Response Network there to provide support to anyone who needed it. That support will again be available at the Public Safety Building on Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., so that the people of our community can come together, reflect and remember.

We remember Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu, Martin Richard, and Sean Collier, who were taken too soon from us and by horrific acts. We also remember the more than 260 survivors, injured in the bombings and during the manhunt, who have inspired us all with their determination during their recovery.

As we remember the victims and survivors, what has endured for me in the past year is the outpouring of love and the acts of bravery that we saw during that tragic week and in the weeks and months since. The reprehensible acts of the few have been vastly overpowered by the inherent goodness of people.

I remember those people who ran toward the blasts to help the injured, the marathoners and others who went to hospitals to donate blood, and the doctors, nurses and EMTs who rushed into duty. I remember the people of Massachusetts opening their homes to stranded runners, the vigils held across the region, and the outpouring of goodwill from across the nation and around the world. I remember our dedicated police and law enforcement officials working around the clock to hold the perpetrators responsible and keep us safe, and the runners in the London Marathon six days after our marathon and the rallying cry those runners took up: Finish for Boston.

That’s what sticks with me. People are imperfect. We have our good days and bad, and sometimes we’re so focused on ourselves, whatever is right in front of us that demands our attention, that we can forget to do the little things that spread good and kindness in our community. But when the worst happens, when we are faced with tragedy and evil, we never fail to see people rise up. We never fail to see people join together, do good and persevere.

It reminds me of a story from World War II, when an American boat was sunk in the Pacific by Japanese forces. The lieutenant commander of that boat, who was injured himself, took a badly burned crewman to shore by biting down on the crewmen’s life jacket strap and swimming five hours to the closest island. He then went back out into the ocean, swimming to find aid and food for the rest of his crew. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his actions.

Lt. John F. Kennedy later wrote home to his parents about the incident, saying, “On the bright side of an otherwise completely black time was the way that everyone stood up to it. Previous to that I had become somewhat cynical about the American as a fighting man. I had seen too much bellyaching and laying off. But with the chips down—that all faded away … for an American it’s got to be awfully easy or awfully tough.”

Last year, an act of evil marred one of the greatest days of the year in Boston, a day that marks the unofficial start of spring. Our sidewalks fill with crowds of people of all ages, and we embrace each runner from more than 90 countries around the world taking on a grueling task, so they can return home and say, “I did it. I ran the Boston Marathon. I finished the race.” It’s an accomplishment that endures for each individual, a legacy they carry with them the rest of their lives.

This year, thousands of marathoners will seek a new legacy for themselves, and Boston will establish a new legacy, too. We will once again come together, in fellowship and conviction, and cheer on the strength and determination we will see along 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square. An act of evil marred this day last year, but that is not what endures. The memory of those lost will endure, just as the inherent goodness of people, the acts of bravery, love and dedication will endure. And that will forever be the legacy of the 117th Boston Marathon.