April 15, 2013 was their wedding day- one they knew would be special and always remembered. Turns out, it would be seared into their memory as their day of love and happiness became a day of horror and great loss for so many of the people they had wanted to celebrate with.
Robert and Kelli Watling had planned to run the race then tie the knot in a post marathon ceremony. Then the two blasts hit, shattering the day and leaving them with a decision of what to do next. In spite of what had just unfolded and even as bodies were being counted and the wounded were receiving assistance and transport- Kelli and Robert followed through with the ceremony. They said their vows at the Boston Public Garden, determined not to let the horror deter them.
A year later they are returning to run again, pregnant and celebrating their one year anniversary. They couldn’t stay away and felt the need to be a part of the experience of healing and triumph over evil that Boston will be celebrating this year.
These two had a very unique and challenging start as a newly married couple- and they feel lucky to have each other and to be alive and well. Life needs to go on for all survivors of tragedy, even though it often seems impossible at first. But now a year later, this couple, families of the slain, those who were injured and are struggling to get their lives back are all somehow joined together by the triumph of love over hate and joy over despair.
