Walpole Community Sends Prayers to Families of Boston Marathon Victims

The United Church of Walpole held a vigil on Wednesday evening in the Labyrinth Garden to pray for the families of the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy.

Reverend Ray Kostulias of the United Church and Reverend Alan Hesse of the Epiphany Church led the ceremony.

Young and old joined together to pray for the families of the victims. Candles were handed out as people arrived by members of the United Church congregation. 

Citizen of the Year, Phillip Czachkowski, rang the bell at the start of the ceremony.

Afterwards, each person was handed a stone to place in the marble bowl at the center of the labyrinth and was encouraged to pray for a moment.

Walpole High School student Casey Culhane attended with two of her friends and said, "I am here because my mom ran the Marathon many times and this hit too close to home."

A member of the United Church Congregation, Sheila Harbst said, "I am angry that we cannot be better to one another. We need to respect one another. I feel so devastated."