The scene is all too familiar. An explosion. Distant smoke and the flash of another blast. Bloodied faces and bodies. People running away. Shock, fear, confusion. Such was the scene Monday afternoon near the Boston Marathon finish line.

But there was more, the other familiar element of these scenes: people running toward the danger to help.

We celebrate heroes of all dimensions, those who turn in the wallets they have found, those who defy authority to do what is right, those who cast aside worldly goods and family opinion to serve the poor or the diseased.

And especially, those who run toward danger.

First responders never know what they may encounter when the call comes. At Boston, they were running toward the unknown, not knowing what other dangers lay in store. But still they went to the scene to render aid. And still others, spectators and runners, sprang into action to offer help where it was needed, from applying emergency first aid to running straight from the finish ...