By David A. Sargent,Special to the Sun Journal

LEWISTON – Sitting ramrod straight with emotions that were controlled but close to the surface, dozens of public safety personnel were praised for their service Sunday during the first Blue Mass at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

The Mass marked the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and also noted public safety efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The morning’s solemn ceremony was coupled with an impressive display outside the basilica where a gigantic American flag flew between extended ladders of an Auburn firetruck and one from Lewiston.

Public safety workers, including Maine State Police, local fire and police personnel, and Maine Forest Service members flanked the granite stairs as parishioners and guests, including many family members of the honorees, entered the church. Three kilted bagpipers and a drummer of the Maine State Police played outside before and after the Mass.

Gov. John Baldacci and Maine Reps. Mike Michaud and Tom Allen joined the public safety workers at the Mass, as did two brothers, Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay and Auburn Mayor Normand Guay.

Many of the uniformed personnel attended with spouses and young children. Some sat with their families. Others were in groups of their comrades. The men and women in uniform ranged from their early 20s to retirement age.

Many wore white gloves with dress uniforms of brown, white or the blue for which the Mass is named. Others were in their normal uniforms of daily police and emergency management work.

In his homily, Roman Catholic Bishop Richard J. Malone said, “The Blue Mass is a church tradition of nearly 70 years.” He said, “It is a way of thanking you and, yes, encouraging you in your demanding and often dangerous professions always to walk closely with God.”

He called the public safety workers “promoters, protectors, sustainers and restorers of shalom, that beautiful Hebrew word that means peace. But it means a lot more. It means wholeness, right order, harmony and health.”

Yet, he said, shalom is never perfect in a world in which we learn too often of “the horrific truth of the evils of which humans are capable.” Noting that Hurricane Katrina was a catastrophe of nature, he decried the “chaos, looting and mayhem” that some people perpetrated in its wake.

The bishop emphasized that the public safety personnel being honored also deserve high praise for their efforts when tragedies such as domestic violence and arson occur.

“You face each day with a willingness to give your best self, often for the benefit of strangers,” he said. “You must have the heart of a healer or risk internalizing all these situations.”

Listeners included representatives of the U.S. Border Patrol, the Maine Wardens Service, and fire and law enforcement organizations in York County, Woolwich, Mechanic Falls and South Portland.

As the ceremony closed with singing of “America the Beautiful,” the colors were paraded to the rear of the basilica. As the congregation stood and sang, one older police veteran near the back watched the American flag move up the aisle. When it was opposite him, he turned quietly, placed his hat on his head and saluted.

Following the service, Malone said that when he came to Maine he was surprised to find that the Blue Mass was not celebrated here regularly. He hopes to make Sunday’s event the first of an annual service that will take place on the Sunday nearest Sept. 11.

Outside, many vehicles from law enforcement, firefighting and medical/rescue units were parked along the streets around the basilica. These included a 1940s vintage Maine State Police car and an old pickup truck from the Maine Forest Service.

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