LEWISTON, Maine – While flags were lowered across the state, Maine residents whose sense of security was shattered by a mass shooting last year planned to mark the anniversary Friday in ways large and small, including a memorial.

Killing of 18 people by an Army reservist In Lewiston, the stark reality emerged that no corner of the country is safe from gun violence, including a state where people often boast of a low crime rate.

The largest of the gatherings was expected to be at the city’s hockey rink, where a moment of silence would be held at the time of the shooting.

It has emerged as an important component of the community’s grieving process since the shootings, Elizabeth Seal said through a sign language interpreter at an event with victims and survivors last week. Seal’s husband, Joshua Seal, died in the clashes.

“I think once justice is served, maybe we can start the healing process,” Seal said through a translator. “But in the meantime, we will remain ‘Lewiston Strong’.”

Seal and dozens of survivors and victims’ relatives recently began the formal process. suing the US Army because what they said was not to take action to stop 40-year-old reservist Robert Card.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills called it “one of the darkest days in Maine history” in a video statement on the anniversary.

Students celebrated the anniversary with a moment of silence at the high school, which became a command center with helicopters using the sports fields and hundreds of police vehicles in the parking lot.

“We will never forget the unimaginable pain and loss from that terrible day,” Superintendent Jake Langlais said in a statement. But he added: “A lot of good things have happened since that terrible day.”

The shootings on October 25, 2023, occurred at a bowling alley and cornhole tournament hosted by a bar and grill. Kart died by suicide His body was found two days later.

Justin Juray, owner of the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley where the shooting began, said the venue would close Friday so staff could be with their families. He said he’s had a tough week as the anniversary approaches and Friday will be especially tough.

“We don’t need to work to increase their stress,” he said. Juray and his wife, Samantha, We reopened the bowling alley in Maysix months after the shooting. Two staff members were among the eight people killed there.

There were more than 130 people at the two sites, according to the state’s director of victim services. In addition to the 18 people who died, 13 people were injured by gunfire and 20 people were not injured by gunfire.

Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement Friday praising the unity, resilience and strength of the Lewiston community.

“They responded by reminding the nation of the unacceptable truth that too many families are experiencing the tremendous pain and trauma caused by the epidemic of gun violence,” Harris said. He highlighted what he called the Biden administration’s “critical progress” on gun safety and violence prevention, but added there is still much work to be done.

At the state level, the Maine Legislature responded to the shootings by: new gun laws This strengthened the power of the state “yellow flag” lawcriminalized the transfer of weapons to prohibited persons and expanded funding for mental health crisis care. The gunman’s family and fellow reserve officers reported that he was suffering a mental breakdown.

Mills said the healing isn’t over. On Friday, he called on Maine residents to remember the strength and resilience that emerged in the wake of tragedy, even as we “mourn and pay tribute to those we’ve lost, support those injured, those bearing wounds both visible and unseen, and honor all those affected.”

“As we move forward on the long and difficult road to recovery, let’s remind ourselves that we are not alone. Let’s remind ourselves that we are ‘Lewiston Strong’ and we will continue to heal together,” he said.

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Associated Press visual journalists Robert F. Bukaty, Rodrique Ngowi and Nick Perry contributed to this report.