PORTLAND — Not all heroes wear capes, and that was the theme of the American Red Cross’ 20th annual Real Heroes Breakfast and awards ceremony on Thursday.

Hundreds gathered at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland for the event, which honored seven individuals for their acts of heroism and courage, kindness and unselfish service to others.

Four York County residents were heralded as heroes at the event — Jayne Hitchcock of York; Lt. Joseph Carroll and firefighter Steve Mercier with the Saco Fire Department; and Kathy Sawyer of Old Orchard Beach — for making differences in their communities.

Three others, Arthur Bourget of West Gardiner, Paul Reynolds of Harrison and Andrew Grant of Norway were also recognized for their dedication to service.

They may be ordinary people, said Red Cross Regional Chief Executive Officer Patricia Murtagh, but they’ve shown extraordinary courage.

“They’re doing some remarkable things and I think there’s something special about any one of us going outside our home on any given day, thinking that it’s an ordinary day and, all of a sudden, we’re tasked with maybe doing something extraordinary,” Murtagh said Thursday. “We recognize that because it is at the core of what we do at the Red Cross.”

But ask any one of York County’s “real heroes” if they think their deeds are heroic, and they’ll firmly deny the claim.

“I really don’t think I’m a hero,” said Sawyer, who last May pulled her son out of their home, which had caught fire, suffering third-degree burns in the process.

“I’m a mom and I did what needed to be done in that moment. If that makes me a hero, okay,” said the winner of the Lifesaving Award, chuckling. “I knew that I had to get my son out.”

For Mercier, who with Carroll rescued a seaweed harvester whose boat capsized at the mouth of the Saco River in March, being given an award for his acts was a humbling experience. When asked if he felt he was a hero, he responded, “absolutely not.”

“It’s a little overwhelming to be quite honest,” the firefighter of 24 years said. “It’s very humbling, but this is something I love doing and I’ve always had a passion to want to help people. … Where my heart lies is to help people.”

For Carroll and Mercier, who took home the Public Safety Award, their water rescue was just business as usual.

“We were just doing our jobs,” Carroll said. “We’re there to protect the public, we’re there to protect the citizens and visitors that are there, so it was just an everyday thing for us.

“A lot of the time you don’t see recognition for the things that you do, so to see all these people come together and put so much time and effort into an event, it’s nice,” he said.

Hitchcock, a cyber security expert whose own online stalking in 1996 inspired her to take action by speaking in schools and sponsoring anti-cyberbullying legislation, said she was happy to see recognition after so many years — but she still doesn’t call herself a “hero.”

“I guess, I don’t know, I’m being called (a hero) so I guess so,” Hitchcock said, laughing. “Honestly it’s nice to be recognized after 20 years of doing this. It’s rewarding for me to go to schools and talk to parents and train law enforcement.”

Hitchcock’s work earned her the Education Award from the Red Cross.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, delivered a video message to award recipients at the breakfast, calling those ordinary people who step up and face adversity head-on “essential” in handling the “individual catastrophes that occur every day.”

“Heroes aren’t just the people that make history, they’re also the people who make a difference each and every day in our communities all across our state,” she said in her message. “Thank you for all you do.”

Murtagh agreed.

“Think about the person you saved, their family. Put yourself in their shoes and think about the fact you protected their loved one,” Murtagh said. “Of course you’re a hero.”

But, Sawyer said, being a real hero isn’t about bravery; it’s about having the strength to persevere through difficult times.

“I’ve learned through this whole thing that, even if your wings get a little bit singed, you’re still going to be able to fly,” she said in her address to the crowd. “Even though it’s something I have to deal with every day, I’m going to move forward.

“You can keep moving forward and there is hope,” Sawyer said. “I may have singed my wings, but I’m going to keep flying.”

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.