Boston Marathon bombing survivor to speak at Southeast

Jeff Bauman, a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing, will be the keynote speaker Sunday for Patriot Day at Southeast Missouri State University.

Bauman will speak at 2 p.m. in Academic Hall auditorium, kicking off Southeast's 2015-2016 Speaker Series.

The title of his address is "Beyond the Finish Line: A Conversation with Jeff Bauman." The event is free for faculty, staff, students and the public, and no tickets are necessary.

On April 15, 2013, Bauman stood at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, awaiting his girlfriend, Erin. An ominous-looking man dressed in dark clothing appeared and dropped a black backpack only a few feet from Bauman. Moments later, the first of two explosions rocked Boylston Street.

Bauman was gravely injured, losing both of his legs and suffered other serious injuries.

Carlos Arredondo, a peace activist at the marathon now described as a "cowboy hat-wearing hero," quickly lifted Bauman and got him to an ambulance, saving his life. A photo of Bauman and Arredondo surfaced that day and now is the most iconic image of the marathon tragedy.

Once inside the ambulance, Bauman told EMTs he knew who had set off the bomb. Despite being somewhat delirious and in shock, he remembered the man in dark clothing with whom he'd made eye contact with minutes before the blast.

When Bauman awakened from surgery, FBI agents were outside his door. He started talking, a sketch artist started drawing, and the FBI soon had identified the two suspects. Days later, their reign of terror over the city of Boston had ended, and Bauman went from a normal 27-year-old Costco employee, musician and Boston sports fan to a national hero.

Bauman's story is featured in The New York Times best-selling memoir "Stronger" that is being adapted for film. He now shares his story with audiences across the country.

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.