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Friday, December 21, 2012 at 6:17 am
PORTLAND (AP) — The Winter Solstice will mark a vigil in Portland to remember the homeless people who have died.
Friday's solstice brings the shortest day and longest night of the year. The homeless observance begins at 4 p.m. with a candlelight procession to Monument Square joined by people who are homeless, have been homeless, who work to with homeless people, and those who are grateful not to be homeless.
After the procession, a ceremony in Monument Square will take place to honor homeless people who have died, featuring Mayor Michael Brennan and Homeless Voices for Justice advocate Jim Devine.
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Lewiston Auburn Vigil For the Homeless
LEWISTON — The Lewiston/Auburn Alliance for Services to the Homeless and New Beginnings invite the L-A community to join their annual candlelight vigil to remember homeless people during the holiday season. It will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, in downtown Lewiston. For 10 years, LAASH and New Beginnings have held the vigil as part of a national movement of cities marking National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on or near the winter solstice, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year.
Participants are asked to meet at 4:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the Trinity Jubilee Center at Trinity Episcopal Church. The courtyard entrance is on Spruce Street near the corner with Bates Street. Vigil participants are invited to bring nonperishable and canned food which will be collected at Trinity.
After a few words and lighting of candles, vigil participants will walk several blocks down Bates Street to Main Street. The procession will turn right on Main Street and continue up Sabattus Street and stop in front of Calvary United Methodist Church in the triangle between Sabattus, College and Bartlett streets. Vigil participants are encouraged to bring signs to hold as the vigil remains in front of Calvary to raise awareness of homelessness to passersby during the evening commute.
Participants are invited to join the vigil at any point, and groups from businesses and service providers near the route are especially encouraged to join as the vigil passes. Refreshments donated by Hurricane’s and the Bread Shack will be available indoors at Calvary. Staff from New Beginnings will provide van service back to the Jubilee Center or the Park Street garage as needed.
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