The sound “Amazing Grace” coming from bagpipes played by the Maine Public Safety Pipe and Drum group at Riverbank Park Monday brought tears to eyes of Windham resident Tim DeCosta.
“The emotions are still raw,” said DeCosta.
Those emotions came to the forefront again on a clear, cool Monday evening as people came to Westbrook to remember the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on their fifth anniversary and honor firefighters, police and military who served at those horrific scenes, those who died and those who continue to serve today.
About 100 people gathered at Riverbank Park to watch a parade of firefighters and police and to listen to speeches of remembrance in weather eerily reminiscent of that clear day five years ago.
“I guess the shock has worn off, but I still feel very sad,” said longtime Westbrook resident Pauline Concannon. “And I don’t think the country will ever be the same.”
Concannon said although no one she knew was hurt in the attacks, her son was in New York City, her brother-in-law was at the Pentagon and her daughter was just outside Washington, D.C. She watched the parade Monday with another longtime Westbrook resident, Jan Cramer, who also said she didn’t think the country would ever forget.
“The whole world, really,” said Cramer, who said she has a friend in Italy still affected by the attacks.
Mark Higgins of Gorham said he and his girlfriend, Bonnie Milton, had come to Westbrook to pay their respects to the fire and police personnel and also because he had a classmate at Gorham High School who died in the attacks.
“Things haven’t really changed much as far as how people feel towards terrorism,” Higgins said. “We’re still dealing with it.”
Milton said she thinks everyone should remember as long as they can. “I think everybody needs to keep remembering,” she said.
Higgins, a veteran of Desert Storm, said he still believes in the fight against terrorism, but he’s not sure how much more effort the country should make in Iraq. “It’s a good thing to fight against, but I don’t think there’s much more we can do over there,” he said.
Others agree, including Westbrook resident Margaret O’Connor, who said she remembers being angry five years ago and wanting the country to react. “They’re trying to get us, we should try to get them,” she said of how she felt at the time. But now she said she feels U.S. troops should be brought home.
O’Connor’s partner, Don Malloch Jr., has similar feelings, glad that the United States is willing to fight for itself but also wishing the nation’s young men and women in the military didn’t have to risk their lives.
“I think America was trying to strike out (when the country invaded Iraq), but now it’s time for Iraq to stand on its own two feet,” said Malloch.
DeCosta isn’t so sure. He said he wished the war on terrorism was handled differently, but he feels the country was right to do something. “I won’t say we should get out of Iraq, but I think we should finish what we started as quickly as possible,” he said. “Get our boys out of there. And that’s what they are: boys.”
Monday’s parade included bagpipes and drums followed by Westbrook firefighters, police and city officials on foot, police cars from Westbrook, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and the State Police, as well as a Hummer from the Maine U.S. Army National Guard. Fire engines from Westbrook, Gorham, Windham, Standish, Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and Cumberland County followed.
Speakers at the gazebo in the park honored public safety personnel, their devotion during the attacks and their continued service. Speakers included Mayor Bruce Chuluda, Westbrook Police Chief Paul McCarthy, Westbrook Fire Chief Gary Littlefield and Congressman Tom Allen.
Westbrook ceremony recalls 9/11
Westbrook firefighter Lisa Theberge gets a welcome 
Children from A Joyful Noise Christian Daycare and Learning Center on Main Street await the start of the 9-11 Memorial Parade on Monday afternoon.
The American flags are waving as the 9-11 Memorial Parade passes the children from A Joyful Noise Christian Daycare and Learning Center on Main Street.
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