AP/Michael Dwyer
In the first game held at the Fenway Park since the Marathon bombing on Monday, fans both in the stadium and watching on NESN experienced a moving tribute to the victims of the tragedy on Monday and a celebration of the apprehension of the second of the two suspected perpetrators on Friday. A montage on the video alternated images of tragedy and resilience on Monday -- several images of heroism drew cheers from the crowd -- before moving to what remain surreal images of the war zone that was nearby Watertown on Thursday night and Friday.
Quotes representing resilience from Barack Obama, Mayor Tom Menino, Governor Deval Patrick and several other notables -- including Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks -- were displayed on the video board.
From there, Marathon volunteers lined up along the Green Monster and members of local police departments lined up behind the pitcher's mound behind Matt Patterson, an off-duty firefighter who saved the life of a young boy, attack survivor Steven Byrne and well-known Boston Marathoners Dick and Rick Hoyt.
Both the Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals watched the ceremony from the foul lines. Several members of the Royals made a point to tip their caps to the police officers as they walked off the field. Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamaccchia shook the hand of every police officer who walked off the field through the Red Sox dugout.
By the end, the only person left on the field was Ortiz -- making his return from the disabled list, clad in the special uniforms the team was wearing for the occasion.
"This jersey that we wear today, it doesn't say Red Sox," Ortiz said. "It says Boston. We want to thank you Mayor Menino, Governor Patrick, the whole police department for the great job they did this past week.
"This is our (expletive) city, and nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong."
Twitter: @brianmacp