The University of Southern Maine held a memorial at its Lewiston campus on Tuesday to mark one year since Maine’s worst mass shooting.

Army reservist Robert Card killed 18 and wounded 13 others in Lewiston at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant on Oct. 25, 2023.

Speakers from the university shared their experiences, followed by a reading of the victims’ names and a moment of silence.

“It was important to hold this event because this is still alive in our hearts and we recognize that healing takes time,” said Netty Provost, director of USM’s Lewiston-Auburn Campus. 

USM President Jacqueline Edmondson spoke about remembering the past while preventing future tragedies. She also mentioned how she’s helped strengthen mental health services across all campuses.

Sandra Wood, assistant professor of Linguistics, talked about the importance of Maine’s Deaf community stepping up.

“Our community holds many remarkable stories of agency, resilience and a shared determination to ensure that this does not become an isolated single note of trauma among not only our community but here in Lewiston,” Wood said in sign language.

Provost said the shooting showed how compassion can go a long away in healing a community. 

“This was one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever dealt with professionally and personally,” said Provost. “But what I’ve seen over the last year, everyone has been there for Lewiston when needed and the city is much stronger than it has ever been.”

The city of Lewiston will mark the one-year anniversary of the shooting Friday at the Coliseé.