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AUGUSTA -- Gov. John Baldacci proclaimed Friday as "Maine Summer Olympians Day'' in a brief ceremony at the Blaine House, and recognized the work and effort it took for the seven Maine natives to simply get to the Beijing Olympics, which were held in August.
Anna Goodale of Camden, spending a week in the state before resuming her world travels, was the lone Maine Olympian present and received a copy of the proclamation.
"It is an amazing honor to be here,'' said Goodale, who, along with Boothbay Harbor's Elle Logan, won a gold medal in the women's eight crew. "We Mainers are good people and we work hard.
"It's an amazing honor to have represented my country and my state.''
Portland's Ian Crocker (who won a gold medal as part of the 4-by-100 medley relay swim team) and Wyatt Allen (bronze medalist in the men's eight crew), Greenwood's Anna Willard, Exeter's Adam Craig and Farmington's Kevin Eastler also competed in Beijing.
"I think what they had to go through to get there was enormous,'' said Gov. Baldacci. "And people don't understand the enormity of the task, the years of practice, the determination to do what they're doing and be on that world stage.''
Jessie Logan received the proclamation on her sister's behalf while Tom Easter received it on his son's behalf.
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