Lewiston Honors Shooting Victims, Community Rallies for Healing \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ One year after Maine’s deadliest mass shooting, the community of Lewiston gathered in remembrance of the 18 victims and emphasized collective resilience and healing. Hundreds attended a memorial service, sharing tributes and reflections while local leaders pledged to advance advocacy for gun safety reforms in Maine.
Lewiston Shooting Anniversary Memorial: Community’s Call for Healing and Change
- Remembering Together: Widow of victim, Elizabeth Seal, shares message of unity.
- Memorial Service: Hundreds gather at The Colisée to honor those lost.
- Heartfelt Tribute: 18 chairs, each with a blue heart, candle, and flowers.
- Push for Change: Families and survivors call for tougher gun laws in Maine.
- State Response: Maine Legislature passes new gun laws and mental health funding.
Deep Look
The community of Lewiston, Maine, came together on Friday to honor the lives of 18 people who lost their lives in the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history. This tragedy has left an indelible mark on Lewiston, but it has also ignited a sense of resilience and collective strength, transforming grief into unity and determination. The anniversary memorial drew hundreds to Lewiston’s Colisée, where family members, survivors, and community members shared reflections, remembered those lost, and called for ongoing support for stronger gun safety measures.
Elizabeth Seal, whose husband Joshua Seal was among the victims, addressed the crowd, capturing the spirit of unity that has taken root in the aftermath of the tragedy. “These connections, just like a spiderweb, are beautiful. I wish it didn’t take a tragedy for me to discover these connections,” she said through an American Sign Language interpreter. Her words resonated with the crowd as she declared that the community would “forever be Lewiston strong.” Seal’s statement embodied the collective resilience that has come to define Lewiston’s response to the shooting, transforming a moment of unimaginable loss into a call for unity and lasting community bonds.
Commemorating Lives Lost with Symbols of Remembrance
The memorial service included powerful tributes to each of the 18 victims, symbolizing the love and respect of the community through poignant visuals and heartfelt reflections. In front of the stage, 18 chairs were arranged, each adorned with a blue heart bearing a victim’s name, a candle, and white flowers—a solemn reminder of lives cut short. Each victim’s name was read aloud, and their image was projected on large video screens, creating a shared space for reflection. The audience, holding teddy bears provided by the American Red Cross as symbols of comfort, observed a moment of silence at 6:56 p.m., the exact time the shooting began one year ago on October 25, 2023.
Outside the Colisée, a local museum collected mementos from those connected to the tragedy. Among the keepsakes was a single shoe from a survivor, a moving reminder of the confusion and terror of that night, and a pair of bowling shoes—a tribute to the bowling alley where the attack began. The items represent a shared experience and offer a way for survivors and family members to preserve memories of those they have lost.
A Day of Mourning and Advocacy for Change
For many, the anniversary was a day not only of grief but also of a renewed commitment to action. Arthur Barnard, whose son Artie Strout was killed, spoke passionately about the need for stronger gun safety measures, pledging to honor his son’s memory by advocating for change. “Nothing can bring Artie back. But we can try to ensure no other family has to go through what mine has,” Barnard said. His words echoed the sentiments of others in Lewiston who are determined to prevent future tragedies.
The Lewiston shooting has served as a catalyst for legislative action. Following the tragedy, Maine’s Legislature passed several new gun laws aimed at preventing similar incidents. These reforms included strengthening Maine’s “yellow flag” law, which enables law enforcement to temporarily restrict gun access for individuals undergoing a mental health crisis. The laws also made it a criminal offense to transfer firearms to individuals who are legally prohibited from owning them and increased funding for mental health crisis response teams, a vital resource in a community still processing the trauma of last year’s events.
The call for stronger gun safety laws has also expanded beyond state boundaries, drawing national attention. On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement of support, recognizing Lewiston’s resilience and emphasizing the need for national action on gun violence. “The Lewiston community has reminded the nation of the unacceptable fact that far too many families have experienced the tremendous pain and trauma caused by the epidemic of gun violence,” Harris said. Her words underscored the widespread impact of gun violence across communities in the U.S. and the urgent need for preventive measures.
Community Reflection and High School Remembrance
The anniversary was also observed across Lewiston’s schools, where students and faculty held moments of silence to honor the victims and reflect on the tragedy’s impact. At Lewiston High School, Superintendent Jake Langlais issued a statement reminding students and staff of the support available within their community. “We will never forget the unimaginable pain and loss that stems from that terrible day,” he said, adding that the school has also seen positive developments in the wake of the tragedy. Langlais emphasized that the sense of community forged in the aftermath has provided students with a stronger network of support and compassion.
One community leader, Justin Juray, owner of Just-In-Time Recreation, the bowling alley where the attack began, closed his establishment on Friday, allowing his staff a day of reflection away from work. Two of the eight people killed at the bowling alley were staff members, and Juray has since made a point of supporting his employees’ mental and emotional well-being. “We don’t need work to add to their stress,” he said, noting that he and his wife, Samantha, chose to reopen the bowling alley in May, six months after the shooting, to provide a safe and supportive space for the community.
Survivors Seek Accountability and Justice
In addition to community healing and remembrance, survivors and families of the victims have begun seeking justice through legal action. Elizabeth Seal and other survivors recently filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army, alleging that the Army failed to act on warning signs related to the shooter, Army reservist Robert Card. The lawsuit contends that Card’s declining mental health and continued access to firearms posed clear risk factors that were not adequately addressed, which ultimately contributed to the tragedy. This legal effort highlights a broader call among survivors to hold accountable the systems and institutions that could help prevent future violence.
This legal action is one of several ways Lewiston’s community is channeling grief into advocacy, both for gun safety and for mental health interventions. As more families join the effort, the lawsuit serves as a reminder of the community’s resolve to seek justice and prevent other communities from facing similar heartbreak.
Unity, Resilience, and “Lewiston Strong”
At the heart of Lewiston’s response to the shooting is an unwavering spirit of unity and resilience. Elizabeth Seal’s message of connection and strength echoed through The Colisée as she spoke about the deep bonds that have formed since the tragedy. “I wish it didn’t take a tragedy for me to discover these connections,” she said, describing how the community has come together to offer comfort and support. Her analogy of a “spiderweb” underscores the community’s newfound strength—a network of people united in their grief and their determination to foster healing and lasting change.
The phrase “Lewiston strong” has come to represent the resilience of a city that refuses to let tragedy define it. From the legislative changes enacted to improve public safety to the simple acts of compassion seen in memorial events, the Lewiston community continues to stand as an example of strength in the face of loss. Through each remembrance, Lewiston reinforces its commitment to honoring the lives of the victims and building a safer future for its residents.
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