Lewiston, Maine — With flags at half-staff across the state, Maine residents whose sense of security was shaken last year by the deadliest mass shooting in state history planned to mark the day Friday in ways big and small, including a planned memorial service.

The killing 18 people by an Army reservist from Lewiston drove home the stark reality that no corner of the country is safe from gun violence, including a state where people often boast of low crime rates.

The largest of the gatherings was expected at the city’s hockey arena, where there were to be moments of silence at the time of the shootings.

Community has emerged as an important component of the grieving process since the shootings, Elizabeth Seal said through a sign language interpreter at an event with victims and survivors last week. Seal’s husband, Joshua Seal, was killed in the shooting.

“Once justice is served, I feel like maybe we can begin that healing process,” Seal said through an interpreter. “But in the meantime, we will remain ‘Lewiston Strong.’

Seal and dozens of other survivors and relatives of recent victims the formal process of suing the US Army has begun for what they say it was a failure to act to stop 40-year-old reserve Robert Card.

The October 25, 2023 shootings happened at a bowling alley and a cornhole tournament hosted by a bar and grill. Card committed suicide and his body was found two days later.

Justin Juray, owner of the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley where the shooting began, said the location will close for the day Friday to allow staff to be with their families. He said it’s been a tough week as the day approaches, and Friday will be especially tough.

“We don’t need work to add to their stress,” he said. Juray and his wife, Samantha, reopened the bowling alley in Maysix months after the shooting. Two staff members were among the eight people killed there.

In all, more than 130 people were present at the two locations, according to the state’s director of victim services. In addition to the 18 dead, there were 13 gunshot wounds and 20 non-gunshot wounds.

The gunman’s family and fellow Army reservists reported that he was suffering from a mental breakdown.

In the wake of the shooting, the Maine Legislature passed new gun laws that strengthened the state’s “yellow flag” status, criminalized the transfer of guns to prohibited persons and expanded funding for mental health crisis care.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said the healing is not over.

“As we continue on the long and difficult road to recovery, let us remember that we are not alone, that we are ‘Lewiston Strong,’ and that we will continue to heal together,” she said.

“Lewiston Strong” took off in the days following the tragedy and continues to inspire, reports CBS Portland, Maine affiliate WGME-TV.

The People’s Alliance of Maine kept its “Lewiston Strong” sign, a constant reminder that led to contemplation.

“What does it mean anyway and what’s next after you’ve declared yourself strong?” asked the alliance’s Carrie Jadud.

“How are we strong for each other and ourselves? But more importantly, how do we heal, heal ourselves, heal each other, heal as a community?” reflected Jadud.