BATH

Together with Sagadahoc Count officials, the Spirit of America Foundation on Tuesday recognized the five latest winners of the county’s Spirit of America Award.

The third-floor rotunda of the Sagadahoc County Courthouse was packed for the ceremony, emceed by Pam Hile, the county administrator. County Commission Chairwoman Carol Grose and Sheriff Joel Merry also were on hand.

Hile presented the awards to Geraldine Coombs of Bath, the Bowdoinham 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee, the Georgetown Working League, the Phippsburg Fire and Rescue Auxiliary and Deborah Locke of Woolwich.

Charles Aucoin, past president of Maine Spirit of America, saluted all of them.

“If we can stop the clock and recognize people,” Aucoin said, “we’re doing something beyond the call of duty. That’s why we’re here today — because someone saw you doing something good for someone else.”

Aucoin told the award recipients to show off just a little bit.

“This afternoon we proudly salute you,” he said. “Don’t hide it. Put that certificate upon the wall. Explode with enthusiasm, and others will catch it.”

Hile began the presentation.

“We couldn’t function without you,” she said. “Your contributions are just beyond value.”

Coombs, the heart and soul of Bath’s Forestry Committee for years, was accompanied by her daughter, Eileen Goddard. Coombs is the latest recipient of Main Street Bath’s Citizen of the Year Award. She was humble as always.

“I’ve had more recognition than I deserve, to tell the truth,” she said prior to accepting the award.

Peggy Muir, Glenna Morin and Judy Gray represented the Bowdoinham group. The committee organized last year’s 250th anniversary celebration in town.

“We had an amazing year last year, and an amazing amount of town support,” Muir said.  “It was a very unifying and energizing year.”

The Phippsburg Fire and Rescue Auxiliary has been serving its community for about 48 years. It was started in 1961 by wives of Phippsburg’s volunteer firefighters. Originally consisting of charter members Geneva Beals, Sylvia Blair, Betty Ames, Marita Doyle and Laura Nickerson, it has grown to a support organization of 20 members.

The Auxiliary meets monthly and there are always two volunteers on call to immediately respond if needed to support the departments.

Locke has been Woolwich Historical Society president eight years and chairs Woolwich Days. She has been instrumental in the effort to upgrade the historic Nequasset Meetinghouse, so that it can host gatherings of 50 people or more.

President Leona Dufour, Treasurer Betsy Cook, Past President Linda Hjortland, Bronwen Tudor and Diann Longstreet represented the Georgetown Working League.