BANGOR, Maine — The 28th annual Charlie Howard Memorial Service will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 120 Park St.
Worshippers are asked to use the lower entrance. After the service, participants will walk to the State Street Bridge at about 6:45 p.m.
Those walking to the bridge are asked to bring flowers to drop into the Kenduskeag Stream.
Howard was an openly gay man who was attacked on July 7, 1984, by three teenagers and thrown into Kenduskeag Stream from the State Street bridge during Bangor’s sesquicentennial celebration. He drowned at the age of 23.
Lois Reed of Carmel knew Howard when both were members of the Unitarian Church, now the Brick Church at the corner of Union and First streets. She will help lead the service.
This year’s memorial will be low-key compared with events held in 2009, the 25th anniversary of Howard’s death. A week of activities that summer culminated with the dedication of a granite memorial next to Kenduskeag Stream.
A rededication ceremony was held in May 2011 after vulgar graffiti was painted on the memorial.
Engraved on the stone near the spot where Howard died are the words: “May we, the citizens of Bangor, continue to change the world around us until hatred becomes peacemaking and ignorance becomes understanding.”
For more information on the service, call the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor, 947-7009.
Thank you for mentioning their names. If the world is stuck with Neanderthals like them, let’s at least be sure they live on in infamy.
Debra Wolfendon.
Do you remember that name?
How about Sally Schofield?
do you know these people, perfect child.
Gay or Straight, this was no way to treat a person. We all need to do more to be more respectful to others and if that can’t be done, let them be.
Murder is murder no matter who it is.
Um, Howard was killed, but he wasn’t murdered.
Very few people understand the difference between “killed” and “murdered.” I commend you for your knowledge.
And would you please tell us your name and age? Thank you
These young men killed someone, it’s public record. Their names should be remembered.
Excellent reply
Perfect!
A lot of people have been killed. Should we remember these peoples names more so than others?
Well Mr./Ms. Swiftly_Silent_Deadly, I do believe, that anyone who’s been kill, should be remembered. I, also think it was alright, to have killers names posted, on this page.
Gee ….last time I checked I wasn’t mentioned in Wikipedia for murdering someone when I was a teenager due to being a homophobic shmuck…..and come to think of it… I’ve managed to live my entire life without murdering anyone or being homophobic…. go figure. Do the crime do the time…..don’t like your name and age in the public domain DON’T MURDER ANOTHER HUMAN BEING… duh.
Having moved out of state years before this happened, I didn’t learn about it until many years later. I couldn’t and still can’t believe that such a terrible thing happened. I for one am glad Charlie Howard has not been forgotten.
Yes thanks for bringing up their names again, those schmucks were followed around and tormented by Charlie and his friend at the Bangor Mall the day before.
Here’s a link to the article the BDN did about them a few years back:
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2009/07/12/news/bangor/where-are-charlie-howardrsquos-killers/
The thing is this murder didn’t have a negative impact on a couple of them. One of them has actually reached millionair status.
The other ironic thing is that one of the boy that killed Charlie now has a transgender homosexual son of his own. Now that is pretty cool.
They got off easy. They didnt deserve to have a life after taking Mr. Howard’s. The fact that one has a millionaire status sickens me. The fact that they were allowed to go on and have families and a life also sickens me. They were old enough when they committed this crime to be charged as adults but back then the courts didnt think much of a homosexual man’s life either. Sad. Whether Charlie put the so-called moves on him or not, he didnt deserve to die for it. I hope in some way they continue to have nightmares about it.
Hey will there be fireworks???
because someone is wealthy Bushfan they don’t qualify for forgiveness??? it was no murder
Look folks, I am a member of the GLBT community. I was around when Charlie was killed, and I personally know and am friends with one of the folks who threw him off the bridge. That person has matured into an adult who is deeply sorry about his past action and who lives with its results every day. Whether we realize it or not, I think most of us know people who have killed someone else: in the armed services, in the intelligence services, by accident, or even on purpose (justified or otherwise). I always thank God that I have not yet had to face to possibility of doing so myself because I am always unsure if I actually could and, if I did, if I could live with the knowledge. As the saying says: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” If you wish to remember the names of people who have killed someone else (as well as the names of their victims), there is nothing wrong with that. But that memory ought not to be accompanied by hatred or holier-than-thou-ness because all those people, whatever the reason for their actions, carry a special spiritual and karmic weight that they all have to work through, and doing so is not easy. If you truly wish to end the “cycle of violence”, it can only be done with compassion. Whatever you would wish for yourself, you must be willing to do for others.
“Worshippers are asked to use the lower entrance. After the service, participants will walk to the State Street Bridge at about 6:45 p.m.”
The Bridge is on Hammond Street, not State Street.
Many people have died in service of their country. Bangor fails to honor them individually. The 44th anniversary of Robert Kennedy’s assassination passed last month and I must have missed coverage of the local tribute. Where was the 20th anniversary of Ricky Letourneau’s death held? Does anyone remember this six-year-old foster child?
Charlie died unfairly and too early, but so have many other folks.
Time to move on.
Is this really the appropriate venue?
Do you go screeching at people wearing pink ribbons that they need to do more about all cancer and not just breast cancer?
I’m NOT the one doing the “screeching” here. Most people reading this paper where not in Bangor 28 years ago, and of those who were, few knew Charlie personally.
I’m just saying that for most of us (who did not know him) this yearly PUBLIC event is getting tiresome.
Sorry you’re so bothered by a man losing his life. You poor poor baby. I mean, forget about the family and friends of this man! What about Mark? LIfe does revolve around him.
Gosh are you out of junior high yet? I get an opinion, and a place to post it, just like you. You don’t like mine / I don’t like yours. That’s life… and it “revolves” around all of us.
The difference is that I’m not the one complain about how inconvenienced about another man’s death. I’m not the one protesting a memorial. There are a group of people like you though, that have that same kind of similar interest. Westboro Baptist Church. You’ll have to google it, because their website address is a gay slur and my comment would likely be flagged. I’m sure you’ll appreciate the slur though — right up your alley.
No Actually I voted no on gay marriage repeal, so your slander doesn’t work. Believe it or don’t, mine is a comment on the human tendency to dwell on the morose. I don’t care for the yearly 9/11 tributes either.
You never move on, or get over, the fact that someone you care about, has been killed or dies. Yes there are times, it hurts you less, and there are times , you cry like it happened yesterday, but it’s always there.
The BND’s coverage of gay events and flagged comments leaves little doubt that they are committed to the promotion of the gay lifestyle. Charlie’s death was wrong, but so is the lopsided views of the BDN. They are drifting into the corner of the ‘Fair and balanced” entertainment section of Fox news. Tis a pity.
Then stop using a memorial to spread your hate. It’s not the appropriate venue. Have some tact.
Your a screwed up little fella. No hate here, just a different opinion then yours. Learn to control yourself.
I think you need to learn to control yourself. You’re using a memorial as a venue to screech. Westboro Baptist Church just has a different opinion too. It doesn’t mean the proper time to express that opinion is during a time of remembrance.
This is your first expression without using the word “hate”. Your doing better. Keep up the good work.
I notice you don’t have a real response or excuse for your poor actions so you resort to personal attacks and changing the subject. I can’t use the word hate but you can tell me I’m a “screwed up little fella”? That’s hypocrisy when you hold others to a higher standard than you’re willing to hold yourself to.
I don’t have time to play this word game. My first comment speaks for itself. Call it what you may.Adios for today.
My God these marchers are actually glad someone died.. They needed a martyr to idolize.. Shame on you for using charlie’s death for your own selfish benifits…
Hey do you remember the homeless guy burned under the bridge. I didn’t think so…. what an arrogant bunch.
What a disgusting comment.
Wow, misanthropic much? To spew such attitude toward anyone showing reverance for a past tragedy is repulsive.
Very sad day. We need to erase hate.
What a disgusting comment. Keep your hatred and vile thoughts to yourself.
I’m not gay, so this benefits me not. Loving the fact someone was kill, no I think not. My very best childhood friend was killed, by her husband May 23, 1983. Her death hurts me every day, she was 25 years old, and her babies grew up with out their mother. I’ll also post their names here, Sally Snow Colby, Brent Colby. Brent killed himself look it up it’s public record.
I dont think the guys who killed him are worth remembering could care less . remember the the guy they through in the water because he was gay. Raise your kids not to hate . gay or straight black or white. hate is the real issue here. humans are the most ignorant beings on earth . just because your gran pappy said hate all gay people and people who aren’t white doesn’t mean you have to. be your own person.