PATIOTS DAY = BOSTON TRADITION

by Brian P. Foley, The College Baseball Blog

On Monday, Boston celebrated the best holiday of the year with Patriots Day taking place in Massachusetts. All State employees and most union workers have the day off from work so they head to the streets to take in the Boston Marathon which starts in Hopkinton MA and ends in Boston 26.2 miles away. The marathon is a tradition in the Foley household since I grew up three towns away from the start of the race. I grew up making the trek to the start of the marathon with my parents and grandparents while getting a ton of free stuff while enjoy the festive atmosphere that happens around the start. I always looked forward to this until I went off to college and haven't been back to the start in years.

The other tradition many people have is going to the Red Sox game that starts at 11 am and after the game is over they head over to the end of the Marathon to catch a glimpse of some people in agony after running 26 miles in the last few hours. It is like watching Nascar to see the crashes since many people are not in the best shape of their lives and are running to raise money for charities around the world or for personal goals. I will make it someday to a Patriot Day baseball game at Fenway if they don't continue to price the NORMAL fan out.

You have to experience Patriots Day in Boston to appreciate the greatness of this civil holiday for yourself.