As we wrote last week, two members of our union family, Brother Peyton Brewer Ross (IAMAW S6) and Steve Vozella (NALC 241) did not make it home to their families from Schemengee’s Bar & Grill on the night of October 25. Ross left behind a wife and a young daughter. Vozella left behind a wife, a 21-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. Additionally, a family member of an IBEW 567 member and a former MSEA SEIU 1989 member were killed.
The Maine AFL-CIO, in partnership with Food AND Medicine, has set up a Lewiston Solidarity Fund that will be used to support directly impacted union families, other directly impacted frontline workers, and community members and organizations. To contribute to that fund click here.
GoFundMe campaigns have been set up to support the families of our two union brothers.
For the family of Peyton Brewer-Ross
For the family of Steve Vozzella
If you want to avoid fees, you can also donate to Brother Peyton's family by mailing checks made out to Bath Savings Institution with Elle Brewer-Ross in the memo line and mail it to Bath Savings Institution, P.O. Box 590, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538. On Wednesday, Local S6 and other unions at Bath Iron Works collected over $20,000 from workers at the shipyard gate for Brother Peyton's family.
"This is a beautiful demonstration of our community’s capacity to care and give freely to those in need," Local S6 wrote on Facebook.
A celebration of Peyton Brewer-Ross’s life will be held on Saturday, November 4 at 1pm at the American Legion Hall, 25 Industrial Park Rd, Boothbay. A reception will be held following the service at Brady’s Restaurant, 25 Union Street, Boothbay Harbor. Due to limited parking there will be a shuttle bus from the Small Mall across from Hannaford on Townsend Ave.
Union Members Helping Union Members
It’s been a very difficult week for many of our members as we continue to deal with the aftermath of the mass shooting in Lewiston. In all of the darkness and pain, there have also been heartwarming moments of solidarity and love as the community of Lewiston and Maine come together to support each other during this tragic time.
After the Lewiston Letter Carriers (NALC Local 241) lost one of their own last week, mail carriers from as far away as Mexico, Maine and Concord New Hampshire traveled to Lewiston to help deliver all of the mail on Sunday.
“A HUGE THANK YOU to all of the carriers in Lewiston who are delivering your mail on a Sunday,” wrote USPS supervisor Dan McGraw on Facebook. “These carriers wanted to come in to help, they were not forced. Keep in mind they are still grieving the loss of a co worker and friend.”
McGraw also thanked the clerks who came in to help sort through three truckloads of Amazon pallets. A behavioral health specialist is reportedly on site to help Letter Carriers process any pain and trauma they are experiencing for last week’s tragedy.
The Professional Firefighters of Maine has also dispatched its peer support team to treat first responders who responded to the crime scenes last week. Lewiston Firefighters (IAFF 785) came upon scenes of mass carnage that no one can ever prepare for. Such sights can cause post traumatic stress disorder or worsen existing behavioral health conditions. One recent study found that first responders made up 1 percent of all suicides.
Amy Davenport, a licensed mental health counselor who works with PFFM to treat the EMS and firefighter community, told NEWSCENTER last yearthat PFFM’s peer support program is about teaching firefighter/paramedics coping skills, resiliency, self-care, ways to manage stress and to care for themselves and their families.
In a statement on Facebook on Friday, the Lewiston Firefighters said they have felt the love from the community during the past week.
“In a world often plagued by negativity, today showed us that there is more good than evil. The outpouring of generosity from strangers, expressed through food, beverages, and heartfelt thanks, was truly overwhelming. Our hearts reach out to the victims and their families, as some of us were acquainted with a few of them. The stark reality of what these families are enduring is ever-present. Despite its problems, Lewiston is also home to wonderful, proud individuals whom we are privileged to assist. Let us pray for the affected families and remember that life is fragile.
The same day, Professional Firefighters of Maine leaders who were in Lewiston/Auburn to support their members on the ground, were struggling to find something to eat in Lewiston as everything was closed due to the shelter in place order. Julie Dawkins, Business Manager of IBEW 2327, Serina DeWolfe from AFT and Doris Poland, Southern Maine Labor Council all sprang into action and brought a home cooked meal to feed the hungry firefighters.
"It was awesome! It was so nice to have a hot homemade meal,” said Ronnie Green, District Vice President of PFFM. “We are grateful, and so thankful! That was an incredible act of solidarity and love."