Vigil is reflective, determined

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
REMEMBER MY NAME — Purple bows, each bearing the name of a domestic violence victim, were passed out at the annual domestic violence awareness vigil and walk Monday evening. Karan Wotton, criminal justice advocate for the Hope and Justice Project, hands one of the bows to Lexi Bartlett. Barbara Kelley, center, attended with Sharon Swimm.
Victims of abuse, violence remembered
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The soft curtain of night fell gently and quickly on a gathering of men, women and children who assembled at Gateway Crossing Bridge in the crisp night air to remember victims and survivors of domestic violence. Their vigil Monday evening was at once, reflective and purposeful as they affirmed their solidarity with those who escaped dangerous situations as well as those who have died at the hands of their abusers.
    Leslie Gervais, a prevention educator for the Hope & Justice Project, said there may be additional victims who simply have not been documented as such. “Purple ribbons represent Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We have 12 bows because 12 people lost their lives so far this year in Maine,” she said referring to a straw basket that sat as a poignant reminder of the price of extreme domestic violence.         Additional bows with blank tags were in the basket so that someone could write in a name to remember a victim who had not been documented. The bows were passed out among the crowd and later tied to a tree as names were called. According to Gervais, there were no deaths this year of Houlton residents. But, the ages ranged from infants to senior citizens. Twelve purple wooden ribbons were staked along the ground nearby with paper bag luminaries to light their path.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SONG OF SUPPORT — Russell Fitzpatrick, accompanied himself on guitar when he sang the John Lennon classic “Imagine.”
    In addition to speakers, the event included three songs which related to relationships. The crowd applauded Mikayla Fitzpatrick’s rendition of “Me and Emily,” Sara Wotton’s and Lexi Bartlett’s performance of “Broken Wing” and Russell Fitzpatrick’s interpretation of the John Lennon classic “Imagine” as he accompanied himself on guitar.
    A former victim of abuse could not attend to tell her story of triumph against the odds. But, Gervais read her encouraging story of leaving more than one abusive situation, relocating to Houlton where she volunteers and has pursued a college degree.  
    Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin estimated the crowd to be around 70 or 75. He and Lt. Dan Pelletier were an obvious law enforcement presence along with Aroostook County Chief Deputy Craig Clossey in addition to Deputies Vance Palmer and Ross McQuade. Clossey said domestic violence “is a daily problem.”
    Two Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department cruisers and two Houlton Police Department cruisers were parked on the driveway to escort the awareness walkers through town before they returned to Riverfront Park.
The purple wooden ribbon staked in the ground at Riverfront Park, left, is for Damien Lynn, 15 months, who died this year from abuse.
    Clossey, who had addressed the group on his department’s role in protecting victims of abuse, said “it was notable that even off-duty police officers and deputy sheriffs were in attendance.”
    Francine Garland Stark, director of the Hope & Justice Project, said the event which dates back to the early 1990s “is important because of the degree to which the community has really been brought into the work — especially in Houlton. And, there is always a very strong show of support from law enforcement in a community that is taking responsibility for holding abusers accountable.”
    Garland Stark said the program “isn’t just about trying to help victims be safe. It’s really about making people who act abusively to stop what they are doing.” She reflected that 30 years ago law enforcement did not intervene in domestic abuse situations or make arrests for assault inside a person’s home. “It has been a process. And, for the last 15 years the greatest partners have been law enforcement. So, we really do this work together.”
    She acknowledged that “it is incredibly difficult to extract yourself from someone who is determined to keep you attached to them” when the person makes repeated requests for forgiveness followed by threats of what will happen if the victim tries to leave the relationship. “We don’t give advice or tell anyone what to do. We help them understand what their options are and we provide support to go through whatever path it is they see is safe for them.”
    The Hope & Justice Project is a confidential, free service with a 24-hour hotline: (800) 439-2323.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SHARED MOMENT — Stephen Wotton, who works for the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department and the Houlton Police, Department said his whole family comes out to show their support. He is with his son Landon Wotton, 3.