Farmington remembers victims of violence

FARMINGTON — A community came together Tuesday night to remember the lives of those lost to acts of violence.

Such violence tears the fabric of a community apart, said speaker Thomas Saviello, state representative.

Following Maine's third annual National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims on Sept. 25 in Augusta, two local organizations dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence partnered to hold a special service for Franklin County, said Bonnie Lisherness, crisis counselor for Sexual Assault Victims Emergency Services.

Families of victims were invited to attend and speak about their loved ones, said Jessica Dorr from the second agency, Abused Women's Advocacy Project.

Over 45 people huddled in the gazebo of Meetinghouse Park as Steve Rowe, former Maine attorney general, said the pain of domestic violence and sexual assault is deeper than the scars you see.

Power and control, the elements of abuse, is learned behavior from parents, neighbors and friends, he said. He went on to urge attendees to honor those victims by saying "enough is enough" — enough of the hurt and loss of life.

Honor those persons by not being complicit but instead modeling healthy behavior and relationships, supporting education, monitoring the use of sexist jokes and reacting when a child or woman is being abused, he said.

From the father whose daughter has been missing for 23 years to the sister of a 7-year-old Weld boy who was assaulted and murdered in the 1960s, a few family members wanted to share stories of their loved ones.

Birthdays and death days are remembered, said Elsie Dill of Phillips. The National Day of Remembrance held in Augusta on Sept. 25 for the past three years by the Parents of Murdered Children is an uplifting experience, she said.

"It's a day I can celebrate Wendle's life," she said of the brother who died in 1963. A second brother became the murder victim of his own child in 1995.

"I won't let a life go by without saying something about that person and I won't let this day go by without remembering my brothers," she said.

The event paid tribute to 12-victims including the most recent Matteo Hanson of Wilton, Louise Brochu of New Portland and Raymond "Butch" Weed of Wilton.

"It's the random murder that's the hardest to understand like Louise Brochu or Butch Weed," Lisherness said. "It leaves the family and the community without closure and wondering about safety."

It was the death of 11-year-old Amber Pond that sparked creation of a sexual response and domestic violence team, she said.

When the frustration of her work takes its toll, she looks at a photo of Pond on her wall "and then I know why I get up and do it again another day — there can't be anymore Amber Ponds," she added.

The loss of life by murder is a real issue for all of you, Dorr said. Murder is a graphic sounding word that conveys a dark mysterious stranger somewhere far away but a murderer could be someone living in your home, she said. Nobody deserves this.

With candles lit, rain falling and music playing, lives were remembered and community members came together to share  grief and loss.

abryant@sunjournal.com