People observed a moment of silence at the Garden of Peace in Boston on the one-week anniversary of the Dec. 14 shootings in Newtown, Conn.

People outside of Honan Funeral Home in Newtown, Conn., during the service for Jack Pinto, 6, who was killed in the school massacre on Dec. 14.

Teenagers placed flowers at the entrance to Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., in memory of 20 children and six adults slain by a gunman there on Dec. 14.

Strangers comforted each other during a memorial service at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown, Conn.

Governor Deval Patrick looked on as Peabody Fire Deputy Chief Eric Harrison received a Medal of Valor during the annual Massachusetts Firefighter of the Year ceremony at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

Boston police displayed some of the guns seized this year.

Victims’ family members, from left, Elvis Martin, Ebony Flonory, and Sharnita Jones celebrated outside the courtroom after Dwayne Moore was sentenced to life in prison for the Mattapan massacre.

Maurice Fuoco, who left Hyde Park High School in 1964 to serve in Vietnam, received his high school diploma on Dec. 19 along with veterans of World War II and the Korean War.

Former governor William F. Weld’s recent return to Boston has brought speculation that he might run for the Senate seat of John F. Kerry who was nominated by President Obama to be the next US secretary of state.

Holiday lights sparkled in the rain on the Commonwealth Avenue mall in Boston.

The Evaporative Snow flying from the blower at the entrance to the Winter Wonderland held the attention of Michaela Alston-Reed, 7, during the Christmas in the City party for homeless mothers and their children at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Raquel Booth, 8, of Danvers was dressed in her pajamas as she wrote out her Christmas wish list while waiting to board the Polar Express in South Station. The commuter rail company hosted 25 local youth charities on a magical train ride to the “North Pole.”

Patriots defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich (50) was turned upside down as he sacked 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick at Gillette Stadium.

Patriots receiver Brandon Lloyd showed his frustration after an incomplete pass in front of San Francisco 49ers Chris Culliver during 4th quarter action at Gillette Stadium.

Celtics forward Paul Pierce pointed after hitting a jumper in the third quarter on his way to scoring 40 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Garden.