About 60 residents gathered with blankets and lawn chairs, some donning American flags on their shirts and others with patriotic hats and headbands.

But most people held the patriotism in their hearts.

"This is an important event," said resident Chris Neep. "Time has really flown by. I really thought there would be more attacks by now, but thankfully there haven't been."

Barbara Bennett said it felt like yesterday that the attacks occurred.

"I remember watching TV that morning, and that Diane Sawyer didn't know what to make of it," she said. "Those images will never go away."

Thomas Satko, head of the Department of Public Works, said it was a difficult thing to forget.

"Unfortunately people tend to forget too easily," he said. "That's why it's important to have these (events)."

Neep said her daughter, Charlie, 11, used to visit the World Trade Center towers frequently with her grandmother. Charlie said they had recently visited the site, where the area was bare except for American flags.

"There was just this big wall with flags all along it," she said.

Charlie, who follows along with news concerning the tragedy, said they also talked about it in class when it first happened.

"I watched the towers fall, with all of the smoke and people running," she said. "I was shocked."

Neep said she could see obvious changes in the country, such as more prejudice toward the Middle East.

"I'll go into a store and see someone in a turban, and it's always in the back of my mind, 'Is something going to happen?'" she said. "But then you stay because you don't want to think that way. I think people are at least more aware of who and what is around them."

Bennett said she saw a lot more patriotism shown than ever before, as well as heightened security measures while traveling. Satko said besides that, he didn't think there was much of a difference in a small town like Adams.

"With security measures there's been a change of course," he said. "But around here I don't think you see a lot of change."

Another resident who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned the downward spiral of the economy.

"That's a major change if ever there was one," she said.

As for the actual day, most people said they would be going to work as usual, while watching the news events set for next week.

"I'd like to stay home and watch TV for all the coverage they're going to do," said Satko. "But I'll just have to watch the nighttime specials."

Board of Selectmen Chairman George Haddad opened the vigil for the event that "five days from now will be the anniversary of the largest terrorist attack in our country."

"We are sending out a symbol," he said. "They may have been able to destroy our buildings. They may have been able to disrupt us, but only for a short time. We are a melting pot, and they solidified us and brought this country back to what made us originally... the country that everyone would like to be."

Rev. Daniel Boyle then led the opening prayer, asking for a moment of silence for all those individuals who lost their lives in relation to the attacks.

"Give everlasting peace to all who died on Sept. 11 and in its aftermath," he said. "Restore our peace and our purpose."

Haddad then asked all of the children in the crowd to lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance, and resident Larry Pandell sang "God Bless America." Once it grew darker, the screen came down on the town hall and everyone settled in for the concert tribute to New York City.