(Nichole Radke's face says it all as the team fought to finish with a medal.  She is flanked by Shane and Sam Boussy. Photo by Deni Johnson)

They arrived at the Duxbury Bay Maritime School (DBMS) in their red, white and blue, carrying flags and hope, all on behalf of Duxbury’s own Will Miller who rowed to fourth place in the world in the Olympics Men’s Eight Plus rowing competition.

The upstairs reception room was filled with residents and friends who took time out of their afternoon to celebrate the Millers. Bill Miller, Will Miller’s father, is a coach at the school and a 1972 Olympian in rowing himself. Many said they were careful to avoid online spoilers of the race that had been decided hours earlier but aired last Wednesday at 4 p.m. They wanted to share the moment with their neighbors and friends. The celebration was planned only the day before by DBMS director of rowing Kristen McCarthy, asking guests to come for an ice cream social decked out in America’s colors, and watch the Olympic finals together. McCarthy wasn’t certain what the response would be.

“They stream the race live on the Internet and we thought, ‘should we have it?’” said McCarthy, noting the party could be anti-climatic because results would be readily available and gathering anybody on such short notice would be a challenge. “We said, so what! Bill’s sort of a legend around here. I sent the email around one or two o’clock to our rowing email list and right away, I got 28 responses.”

Lauren Holden of Oregon and her sister Paige Babcock of Florida, both of whom grew up in Duxbury, were in town visiting family when they saw the invitation on Facebook. As former babysitters to Will Miller, they brought their children to the DBMS instead of the beach to cheer on a family friend.

“I got off the plane yesterday, saw it on Facebook, and thought, what better way to get back into the swing of things,” said Holden. “They’re such a nice family. What I remember is a little kid I used to carry on my hip and now look at him.”

Babcock who kept a careful eye on their kids as the little ones enjoyed the ice cream dished out by the Duxbury High School (DHS) crew team said she felt such pride in her hometown.

“It’s really exciting,” said Babcock. “It’s exciting for everybody knowing he grew up in Duxbury.”

Though they were in the back of the room, that DHS crew team was perhaps more eager than anyone else to see how one of their own would fare in the greatest competition on earth. As they scooped bowl after bowl of ice cream for little ones, Georgia Butcher, 17, Hannah Hartford, 17, Davis Muller, 17, and Miranda Van Dingstee, 16, spoke of their own adventures on Duxbury’s water and imagined what their futures may hold now that Miller had shown them what’s possible.

“It’s awesome knowing someone from Duxbury is competing at such a high level,” said Butcher.

Hartford, who graduated from DHS this spring and will attend the University of Delaware in the fall, agreed. Though at this point, she has no plans to row at college, she appreciates Miller’s accomplishments.

“Obviously it’s a major feat coming from Duxbury,” said Hartford. “It’s awesome he got to develop into such a great rower.”

For Davis Muller, a future like Miller’s isn’t such a far off possibility. He will be joining the Hobart College crew team.

“I know Will’s father, he was my coach at the New England Rowing Camp,” said Muller. “I came to support the family.”

Van Dingstee, who has been rowing for four years for Duxbury Crew, said she’ll keep Miller in mind as she takes up her oars.

“I think it’s very cool and a good example to live up to, as a role model,” said Van Dings-tee.

As the time neared for NBC to air the race, the people who came out to support the Millers began to find their seats, not all could. McCarthy found a group of friends and shifted excitedly from foot to foot. Chuck Leonard, the executive director of the DBMS, stood alongside the chair of the board, Fred Clifford. Though Leonard knew the outcome of the race from watching the livestream, he was still excited.

“It’s amazing, absolutely amazing,” said Leonard. “I’m very proud. We’re so lucky to have Bill here, coaching. Fourth in the world is a pretty darn good thing and to think Will got some of his roots here.”