GUILFORD – Waving small American flags provided by the local American Legion Post, young and old gathered Wednesday in the rain to remember the victims of last year’s terrorist attacks and to pay respect to America.

Several hundred people, including SAD 4 pupils, veterans of foreign wars, firefighters in their dress uniforms, a color guard from the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department and Piscataquis Community High School band members, were drenched as they listened to a handful of speakers who urged Americans to recognize that freedom is worth the fight and to never forget the innocent victims, some of whom were heroes.

The heroes included firefighters, police and public officials. But those who died simply for being Americans, those who lost loved ones, those who responded with medicine, muscle or money to aid the victims, and those who wept silent tears or prayed for the people they will never meet, are no less heroes, said Guilford Town Manager Tom Goulette, addressing the crowd at King Cummings Park.

“It is these so called ‘little people’ that I wish to remember as well, for it is from their ranks, from the likes of people such as many of you here this afternoon, that America has developed and nurtured its defining spirit, its sense of right and wrong, its sense of justice and fair play, and its great sense of independence,” Goulette said.

“Today, when majority rule is a forgotten ideal; when political correctness overrides both custom and common sense; when a country that outlaws all mention of the God esteemed of our forefathers, yet allows a California school to insert in its seventh-grade classrooms a mandatory curriculum requiring students to memorize 25 tenets of Islam, recite verses from the Koran and repeat chants extolling Allah, all in the name of diversity, while at the same time forbidding any reference to the 10 commandments; it strikes me that we may soon see the raising up of another batch of heroes,” Goulette told the audience.

Americans don’t like to be pushed around, whether by those from abroad or by those within the country, the town manager noted. He urged participants to remain watchful and to determine just what freedom really means to them.

“Do remember that there are those who would destroy us, but never forget those who have perished for the causes of America,” Goulette said.

As Goulette suggested, participants shook hands with those individuals standing beside them, thanking them for taking the time to show their respect for America and their reverence for the lost lives.

After all, Goulette explained, “you may be shaking the hand of a hero.