BANGOR, Maine — Grieving faces revealed themselves in candlelight in front of Bangor City Hall Sunday, as dozens gathered for a vigil to honor the 18 victims in the mass shooting in Lewiston.
“I'm here tonight to support the families – the friends,” said Mark Wolfington, who attended the event after moving to Maine two weeks ago.
The desire to be there, to be present, drew many to Sunday’s event – which was attended by several members of Maine’s deaf community, who lost four of their own in Wednesday’s mass shooting, according to NBC news.
But as the crowd gathered, and began to talk, it became clear that there was another purpose to the vigil: a chance to process loss collectively.
“I am not making any sense of it to be honest with you – just going through the emotions,” Angela Walker, who was bundled un a down coat for this first truly chilly evening of fall.
She added, “I think that it shows that the communities across the state of Maine are standing in solidarity.”
Shortly after the crowd gathered, a silence fell among the candleholders as the official program for the event, hosted by the Bangor City Council, began.
One by one, local political leaders took the podium, many calling for action on gun control.
“When there is human suffering and misery to be addressed in the here and now, we must act,” state Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot), said. In his speech, Baldacci called for the state senate to convene to pass new gun legislation including a public, statewide registry of those owning guns illegally. This comes amid growing scrutiny that key indicators of Robert Card’s troubled past were not recognized as he acquired high powered guns.
“We can't just pray; we need to act. And we need to have solid concrete ideas to improve the situation.” Baldacci added.
As the ceremony concluded, the crowd slowly trickled out. In the din of conversation, a small boy gave his reason for coming.
“I just want to make them feel happier.”