15-year-old old Lydia LaPado participated in her first vigil, calling for an end to hate. (Eleanor Cade Busby photo)
More than 150 people participated in a vigil in memory of the victims of Orlando, Fla.’s June 12 Pulse nightclub massacre on the evening of Monday, June 13 on the Damariscotta-Newcastle Bridge. Residents of the area of all ages came, some in wheelchairs, some using braces to walk or pushing baby carriages, to show support and share the grief they were feeling.
Rainbow flags, American flags, and supportive signs were on display on both sides of the bridge. Some of the signs read: “Stop the Hate,” “We are Orlando,” “Gun Control Now,” and “End Homophobia.” Some people held candles.
Cars slowed to a crawl when passing the vigil. Many passing by sounded their horns, waved, or simply nodded support.
John David Adams read the list of names and the ages of the victims as the crowd stood in silence, his reading broken only by the occasional sigh or car passing by.
The vigil was the idea of Steve Dixon who simply sent out an email to some friends that morning. From there, social media took over and spread the word. Participants came from all over the Midcoast.
From left: Daphne Stern, Walter Hilton, and Kelly Steppe stand on the Damariscotta-Newcastle Bridge with 150 others to show support for the victims of the Orlando massacre. (Eleanor Cade Busby photo)
The shooting in Orlando is the largest mass murder in the United States in modern history, claiming 49 lives and leaving dozens injured, some gravely.
Marilese Martin lost a friend.
“Brenda Lee (McCool) liked to go dancing,” Martin said. “She went with her son to dance at the gay club Saturday. She would laugh and say it was the safest place to go because the men would leave you alone.”
Martin, who drove from Belfast to participate in the vigil on Monday night, also said she “needed to be with people tonight.”
