Communities across the country gathered to remember, pray and celebrate freedom after the attacks on the U.S. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001.

Impromptu community prayer services were held that evening at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay Baptist Church.

On Friday, Sept. 14, a candlelight vigil was held on the Boothbay Common with dozens of people attending.

A silent march on Saturday, Sept. 15 from the Meadow Mall to Boothbay Region YMCA – with participants ranging in age from babies to seniors – included a color guard, military veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, the arm-in-arm, 130-member Y Arts Youth Chorus, Boothbay Region Alumni-Community Band,  town officials and citizens.

At the YMCA, over 900 people packed the gym where clergy, veterans and citizens spoke about hope. The Y Arts Chorus was a big part of the ceremony, singing “Inscription of Hope,” with the final stanza being:

May there someday be sunshine
May there someday be happiness
May there someday be love
May there someday be peace

The Boothbay Register published stories from people who knew of people who were in New York City and Washington, D.C. at the time of the attacks.

Signs and American flags were everywhere in the following days and weeks.

Here, for the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we have provided file photos from the days following the attacks.