FREEPORT

Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and people of all ages gathered across Maine to remember and honor those who lost their lives in that tragedy.

In Freeport, dozens gathered along Main Street with the Freeport Flag Ladies to wave American flags and commemorate those who died that day as well as the brave men and women who acted courageously in the wake of the attacks. The Freeport Flag Ladies — Elaine Greene, Carmen Footer and JoAnn Miller — have gathered on Main Street every Tuesday and every anniversary of 9/11 for the last 15 years.

While the group has stood through rain and snow, they were fortunate Sunday as heavy rain earlier in the day gave way to sunshine by the time people began to gather on Main Street.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined the Flag Ladies for a while, waving an American flag alongside them as motorists drove by.

“I so admire the patriotism and devotion shown by the Freeport Flag Ladies. I’ve joined them a couple of times in the past, but the fact that they started this tradition shortly after the worst terrorist attacks on our nation 15 years ago, and have kept it since then every single week — every single Tuesday — is truly extraordinary,” said Collins.

Collins said she remembers 9/11 not only for the tragedy that unfolded, but also for the sense of “unity and resolve” in the days and weeks after.

“That spirit swept across our country. I remember being on the Capitol steps the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, and all of us sang ‘God Bless America’ together. That will be an indelible memory for me. And the petty partisanship that so often afflicts Washington today was completely absent. Everyone was pulling in the same direction, supporting one another, and today as we mourn and remember those whom we lost on that day, I hope we can recreate that sense of unity and resolve,” said Collins.

Others waving flags along Main Street also recalled their responses to 9/11.

Ray Bickford of New Gloucester was only 50 miles away when the first plane struck the World Trade Center tower in New York City. The next day he was hauling a truckload of water to Long Island. Bickford, a member of the Patriot Riders of America and former military veteran, hoped passersby in Freeport would be inspired with a sense of patriotism and togetherness.

“I want to honor 9/11 and the Flag Ladies,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, members of the Bath chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7738 held a memorial service at the Midcoast Veterans Memorial. Ken Lambert, commander of the post, read statements on the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks from President Barack Obama and the VFW national commander, as well as a prepared statement from Post 7738.

In his remarks, Lambert noted that they gathered “to remember a tragic moment in American history when nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens were brutally murdered by Islamic extremists.”

The post called on Americans to not dilute or diminish the significance of the day, and to honor victims of the attacks and the first responders.

“We the Veterans of Foreign Wars Pitman-Morrison Post 7738, we humbly ask that all of you continue to carry the images of that day with you and honor the memory of those who lost their lives in New York City, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania 15 years ago today,” said Lambert.