WATERVILLE — Family members, friends and classmates of Cassidy Charette paid tribute to her Tuesday night, lighting dozens of candles in honor of the teenager killed in a hayride accident over the weekend.

Reading together from prayer cards at Mount Merici Academy, they prayed for strength while grieving the loss of the 17-year-old Messalonskee High School student.

“Hold on to us, even when we find it hard to hold on to you,” they read and prayed together. “Be very near, even when we feel you to be very far away. Support us in the weeks and months and, yes, even the years ahead.”

More than 100 people gathered for the candlelight vigil in front of the Waterville Catholic school to remember Charette, a former Mount Merici student, who was fatally injured Saturday night in the accident in Mechanic Falls that sent 22 others to the hospital.

“She led by quiet example,” recalled Vicki Duguay, Mount Merici’s principal.

Duguay led the candle-lighting ceremony, which she said symbolized passing on the light that Charette brought into their lives.

Those at the vigil were invited to come up to a microphone and share memories of Charette, and they took turns recalling funny moments and sharing what they admired about her.Earlier Tuesday, students, teachers and parents at Messalonskee High School held a moment of silence before the start of the varsity girls’ soccer game to mourn not only Charette, but Nora Birch, who committed suicide Sept. 30.

Coach Penny Stansfield said Tuesday the moment of silence before the game with Bangor High School was to express grief over the deaths of both students. Tuesday’s game was the first for the Messalonskee players after the death of their teammate Charette.

“We just want to acknowledge that there was so much loss,” Stansfield said. “But we’re strong, and we’re going to get through this, and we’re certainly a family here.”

Members of the varsity boys’ soccer team delayed their trip to a game in Bangor to pay their respects at the observance. They were joined by football and soccer players from Messalonskee and Mt. Blue High School. Hundreds of community members turned out for the game.

Players and other students wore blue shirts with Charette’s number 11 before the start of the game. During the game, Charette’s teammates wore black armbands with the letter C. During the moment of silence, students linked arms.

Members of the visiting Bangor girls’ soccer team each handed a rose to a Messalonskee player during the pregame observance in recognition of the personal loss their rivals felt.

Principal Jon Moody said the school brought in outside mental health professionals and counselors from area schools to assist Messalonskee’s own counselors in providing support for students.

The library and guidance offices were opened up as “safe locations” for students. Teachers, administrators and support personnel were on hand to provide support in classrooms and usher those who wanted to talk to the appropriate personnel, he said.

“We believe in Messalonskee, and our community has certainly lived up to the moniker ‘Messalonskee Strong,’ these past few weeks,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our staff, our kids, our parents and our community.”

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