English
Spanish
Portuguese
Arabic
Haitian Creole
Chinese (Traditional)
Special to The Advocate
On Saturday night, August 31, the Malden community and beyond showed up and showed up big at the annual Vigil to remember those lost to substance use disorder. Through the collaborative efforts of the City of Malden, Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA) and The Bridge Recovery Center (BRC) – along with countless volunteers – a moving evening of tributes, memorials and solemn walks took place as Malden joined others around the world in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day. International Overdose Awareness Day is held on August 31 every year and, according to its website it “is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.”
The universal theme for this year was “Together we can” – “highlighting the power of our community when we all stand together.” Those in attendance at Malden’s Vigil wore purple shirts with the #TogetherWeCan hashtag on the back. A sea of purple walked from the steps of Malden High School’s Jenkins Building to the high school gallery for the ceremony. At the conclusion the crowd walked from the high school to City Hall, where they stood under the Pleasant Street bridge, which had been illuminated in purple; a remarkable sight.
Malden Warming Center Director and Opioid Task Force Member Gerry Whetstone opened the event with prayer. Whetstone is the pastor at the First Church of the Nazarene in Malden and a longtime MOA supporter. He was followed with remarks from ardent supporters Mayor Gary Christenson and State Senator Jason Lewis, who have steadfastly committed to supporting the recovery efforts of the entire Malden community for many years.
The lineup of speakers included MOA Board of Directors President Paul Hammersley, MOA Board Vice President Dana Brown, The Bridge Recovery Center Director Jessica Lanneville and Bridge members Erin Montgomery and Sean Shuemate. The themes of loss of life, hope for recovery and the relentless commitment to the work of recovery resonated with each of them. There were tears of pain and joy during the speeches. Keynote speaker Cindy Robillard commanded the room with her heartfelt story of the loss of her son, the pain of stigma, the importance of community and her hope for others. Near the end of the event, the names of those lost to substance use disorder were read by community volunteers and BRC staff members as Paul Hammersley struck a bell once for each person.
Throughout the evening a collage of photos of those lost was scrolling on the screen at the front of the room. At the conclusion of the Vigil, Andrea Tracey’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” was both solemn and hopeful. The group walked to City Hall, escorted by Malden Police, for a final act of solidarity where a photo was taken under the Bridge, which was illuminated in purple.
MOA President Paul Hammersley would like to give special thanks to the MOA Board of Directors, BRC staff and community volunteers for their collective efforts in organizing and implementing such a special event.
