The term "Patriots Day deaths" functions as a noun phrase, referring specifically to fatalities that have occurred in connection with events on Patriots' Day. While the holiday primarily commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War (Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775), the phrase in modern discourse overwhelmingly points to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
The most prominent instance of "Patriots Day deaths" refers to the fatalities resulting from the terrorist attack that occurred on April 15, 2013, during the Boston Marathon. This attack claimed the lives of three spectators immediately at the finish line and directly contributed to the death of an MIT police officer during the subsequent manhunt for the perpetrators. Another law enforcement officer later died from injuries sustained during the pursuit. Historically, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which Patriots' Day observes, also resulted in numerous colonial militia and British Regular deaths, serving as the original context for a day of remembrance for those who died for American liberty.
Therefore, "Patriots Day deaths" encapsulates both the historical sacrifices commemorated by the holiday and, more acutely in contemporary understanding, the tragic losses from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The phrase serves as a somber reminder of these events, linking the historical struggle for freedom with a modern act of violence, profoundly influencing the public's perception and observance of the day.
