RogerRabbit
Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined: 05 Sep 2004
Posts: 748
Location: Oregon
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 Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 1:51 pm Post subject: 30,000 cheer for their heroes |
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| Quote: | Saturday, April 9, 2005
30,000 cheer for their heroes
By DAVID HENCH, Staff Writer
Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
E.J. Googin, 13, of Portland carries a huge American flag down Congress Street during the parade Friday with the help of fellow Boy Scouts.
HEROES PARADE
Thousands turned out to honor their heroes Friday in Portland. See parade photos (12 images)
On Friday, the "Maine Heroes Parade" and rally honored Maine's soldiers and veterans in Portland. Check the special section for coverage of the parade, and your chance to share photos and stories from the event.
To top of story
Thousands lined Portland's Congress Street on Friday to cheer for the state's servicemen, its emergency workers and the NFL champion New England Patriots.
Billed as the city's biggest ticker-tape parade, the event featured hundreds of soldiers, sailors and other members of the military marching in front of an enthusiastic crowd, estimated at 30,000.
Onlookers bellowed excitedly as each contingent of soldiers paraded into view. The marchers were met by shredded paper, a multitude of small U.S. flags and signs that read: "Welcome Home Heroes" and "America Rocks!"
Soldiers said they were overwhelmed by the response, calling it a tremendous show of pride and support.
From the sidelines, Peter Smith was equally emotional.
"It kind of gives me chills," Smith said, shouting to be heard over the tumult.
Helicopters flew over the parade route, and a P-3 Orion from the Brunswick Naval Air Station seemed to skim the rooftops as it made a few loud passes over Congress Street.
Many in the crowd wore the red, white and blue jerseys of the New England Patriots. Some painted their faces to show the depth of their dedication, shouting themselves hoarse when three fire engines carrying members of the football team bearing the New England Patriots passed by in as the parade's finale.
Team owner Robert Kraft and six players, including All-Pro and captain Richard Seymour, joined in the parade to honor Maine's the nation's servicemen and women and to celebrate their recent Super Bowl victory.
"It was a great welcome home," said Sgt. Chris Boyce, dressed in the desert fatigues of the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion. "It couldn't be any better, having the Patriots here."
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