The Boston Marathon bombing two days ago shook our nation's sense of security during Patriot's Day, a day usually reserved for remembering the valor of those colonials who fought in the Revolutionary War. Los Angeles officials are doing everything they can to make sure upcoming events in the area don't meet a similar fate.

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is scheduled for this weekend, and organizers are expecting upwards of 175,000 people to take part in the festivities, lining the downtown area's sidewalks. Officials are adamant that there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

"There are neither specific nor credible threats to this week's activities - I want to be clear on that," Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster said at a press conference. "Know that the city of Long Beach and the Grand Prix Association will take all appropriate measures to protect the public's security. Some of these measures will be visible and some will not."

The bombing of the Boston Marathon was one of the more gruesome terrorist attacks in recent memory. Three people were killed and over 180 more were injured when two bombs went off in quick succession near the finish line. No suspects have been brought in for questioning at this time.

Police are employing large numbers of surveillance cameras and drug-sniffing dogs to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. The tragic circumstances surrounding the Boston Marathon have certainly increased the vigilance of security personnel for the event, but LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is quick to call event-goers to action as well.

"Unfortunately, it's got to be a continuing effort, and that's why it's so important for the public to take their part," he said. "We can keep things clean and pristine for an instant in time, but as soon as the crowds descend, it is impossible to replicate that over and over again."

The Grand Prix has not seen a decline in ticket sales despite Monday's bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, a sign that the public will not be deterred from resuming everyday life. Still, Mayor Foster has urged the public to be on guard and immediately report any suspicious behavior to the authorities.

"There's a double-edged sword when you have a public event like this," says Henry Willis, director of the Homeland Security and Defense Center at the Rand Corp. "Whenever a large number of people come together, it creates a target for someone who wants to hurt people in a very public way. But at the same time, law enforcement knows that, so we're able to step up security."