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Saturday, April 9, 2005
Champs praise patriots who 'protect this house'
Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||||||
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Also on this page: HEROES PARADE | |||||||||
The salute was for those who serve and defend our country. But when the New England Patriots rolled down Congress Street atop three firetrucks, the roar of the crowd made it apparent that the three-time Super Bowl champions provided plenty of appeal in Friday's Maine Heroes Parade. While the Patriots were a small part of the parade honoring military men and women, the football players were nonetheless a huge draw. Along Congress Street, fans young and old wore Tom Brady jerseys and Super Bowl baseball caps. At a stand next to Monument Square, a vendor sold red T-shirts with "Get Well Bruschi" lettered in white, for Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who is recovering from a mild stroke and recent heart surgery. Plenty of Patriots souvenirs could be purchased along the parade route. Even thousands of miles away in Iraq, servicemen were rooting for the Patriots. "Hey, who's there from the Patriots?" Sgt. Edmund McDonald of Casco asked his girlfriend, via a satellite phone conversation that was broadcast to the crowd, packed into Monument Square. Perched atop firetrucks from the Portland Fire Department, the Patriots were met with rousing cheers as they were escorted to Monument Square. But they kept in mind the true meaning of the day. "It was a great moment," said Patriots center Dan Koppen. "It's their day. We were here, and it was a great feeling to be able to be a part of it." Koppen was one of six Patriots players on an all-star stage that included Gov. John Baldacci, Portland Mayor Jill Duson, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, Brig. Gen. John Libby and representatives from the five military branches. Joining Koppen were Patriots owner Robert Kraft, defensive ends Ty Warren, Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green, offensive guard Steve Neal and center/long snapper Lonie Paxton. "It was all about the team, not the individual," Libby, adjutant general and commissioner of the Maine Army National Guard, said of the Patriots' Super Bowl victory. "That's always what resonates with the men and women of the armed forces." Paxton, Neal and Seymour held aloft three shining silver Vince Lombardi trophies, and before Seymour addressed the crowd, the Patriots presented six Patriots jerseys, each with a name on the back: "Coast Guard, Army, National Guard, Navy, Air Force, Marines." And, appropriately, each with the number "1." Then, Seymour stepped to the microphone. "The champs are here!" Seymour told the crowd. "We are world champions, but what matters to us the most is these gentlemen standing here. "You're number one. You protect this house." Afterward, Koppen looked out on the crowd in Monument Square, inspired by the afternoon's celebration and, more importantly, those it honored. "To see those guys back, and home safe, it's humbling," Koppen said.
Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be contacted at 791-6415 or at:
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Thousands turned out to honor their heroes Friday in Portland.
On Friday, the "Maine Heroes Parade" and rally honored Maine's soldiers and veterans in Portland. Check the