Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline

From the beginning moments of the October 25, 2023 mass shooting and in the days that followed, I received an outpouring of support from people here at home and around the world.

I received phone calls from Gov. Janet Mills and President Biden. I received texts and messages from my friends and family. I heard from people who I never expected to hear from again, all expressing concern and condolences.

The flood of communication was instant and continued at an overwhelming pace. When I finally went to bed that Wednesday night, I fell asleep to the buzzing of my cell phone.

Within days, I began receiving letters from around Maine, around the United States and around the globe. Most of the mail came from complete strangers who wrote to us with heartfelt messages of hope and sympathy. I was moved by these touching letters and grateful to hear from so many people who shared our pain.

I received letters from several ambassadors, including the French ambassador. Ambassador Laurent Bili offered his country’s support and sympathy and relayed that the French “flags were flown at half-staff in remembrance of the lives lost.” The French have stood by our side since before we were a nation and as a city with a large French-speaking population, the support of France is both meaningful and most welcome.

Some letters came from our neighbors here in Maine. A family from Farmington wrote out the 18 names of those we lost and shared that they saw “Lewiston as a beacon of hope, a place that can show all of us in Maine and the rest of the country what it means to come together as a community.” A student from North Yarmouth Academy wrote, “There is always sunshine hiding behind the clouds.” It’s a beautiful sentiment in the midst of deep darkness and pain.

The furthest letter was actually a postcard from Australia. I have a dear friend who lives in Canberra, and when I saw the Australian postmark, I thought it was her. It wasn’t; it was a gentleman who lives in the small town of Trafalgar, Victoria, who saw the shooting covered on the news and dashed off a message of support to a place he had likely never heard of before and will likely never visit. Incidentally, the post card was one celebrating 100 years of Disney with a host of characters pictured on the front, including Iron Man and Moana. Yes, Mickey Mouse was there too.

It would make sense that I received correspondence from mayors across the country. Most notable was a letter from Mayor Daniel Johnson of Lewiston, Idaho. Dated Oct. 27, Mayor Johnson closes the letter with this: “Our thoughts are with you and the families who have been impacted by this senseless act. Their pain is immeasurable, and we send them our deepest sympathies and steadfast support during this difficult time.” Mayor Johnson, if you ever see this, just know that I appreciated your letter so much.

The most touching and poignant piece of mail I received? It was a butterfly painted “for people of all colors and identities” in Lewiston by a 10-year-old girl from New York State. When she somehow ripped the finished artwork, she repaired it with a band aid which signified the “healing of Lewiston.” Accompanying this beautiful painting was a note from the girl’s mom. In 2013, the girl’s dad lost his best friend in a mass shooting in New York. The mom was pregnant at the time with her. The daughter’s middle name is Michael in honor of her dad’s best friend lost to that senseless mass shooting. When I saw the multicolored butterfly painting and read the mom’s handwritten note, I couldn’t help but tear up.

This Thanksgiving, what follows our grief is gratitude. Gratitude for these many messages of concern and sympathy that let us know that we are far from alone.

As we were reeling from the shooting and grieving our loved ones, it’s comforting to think that people were picking up pens and paper and taking the time to share their thoughts and condolences with us. The strength and support from our neighbors around the world has meant the world to us here in Lewiston, and indeed, has helped us weather this dark tragedy.

From all of us here in Lewiston, thank you so much.

Carl Sheline is the mayor of Lewiston.