Pic: Mystery man with a shovel clears the finish line of the Boston Marathon after heavy snow

The search is on to find who braved the blizzard to keep a symbolic bit of Boston's landscape snow free

Even before the tragic events of the 2013 bombing, the finish line of the Boston marathon Boylston Street in the city was an important landmark, for inhabitants and runners alike. However, since the bombing at the finish line of the race in April 2013, an attack that killed three people and injured over 200 others, the site has taken on even more significance to residents, who use the line as a symbol of the city's resilience, the famed #BostonStrong sentiment that circulated in the aftermath of the attack. So, when Boston was hit with two feet of snow overnight, a mystery man with a shovel went out to clear the line. These pictures, posted on Twitter by @PhillyIdol1017 to try and find the person responsible, have gone viral.

Love that Dirty Frozen Water #Boston #bostonblizzard #BostonStrong pic.twitter.com/BDaI2m1z0C — Philip L. Hillman (@PhillyIdol1017) January 27, 2015

Powerful photo, taken by my friend @PhillyIdol1017 - let's find the guy in the photo! #whoshoveledthefinishline pic.twitter.com/HO9WrxeHnI — Gabrielle Daniels (@AroundTownGabby) January 28, 2015

The search is now on to find the person responsible for the thoughtful act. Hat-tip to Mashable

UPDATE: "The Boston Shoveler" has been identified

The mystery has been solved. Boston bartender Chris Laudani was outed by his boss on Twitter as the man in the photo that has gone viral on social media. Laudani told Boston Magazine that he didn't do the act to reap the rewards, and that he was just a massive fan of the race.

I only did it to send a message ... I love the Boston Marathon and everything it stands for, the finish line doesn't deserve to be covered in snow.

https://twitter.com/OnlyInBOS/status/560509375995842560 Laudani confessed that he didn't like how his good deed had been blown out of proportion by the media and urged the public to give their praise to the Boston police and fire services instead.

I think it's cool that so many people feel the same way, but I saw the word 'hero' being tossed around and that I don't like. I'm no hero, I'm just a nut who loves the marathon. The real heroes are the people who were out there clearing the streets and sidewalks, the [Boston Police Department], and the [Boston Fire Department] who risk their lives every day to keep people safe.

Hat-tip to ESPN