Six Patriots to participate in Portland parade

PORTLAND – All-Pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour will be among six players from the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots who will participate in Friday’s Heroes Celebration Parade in downtown Portland.

Seymour, fellow defensive linemen Ty Warren and Jarvis Green, center Dan Koppen, offensive lineman Stephen Neal and long snapper Lonie Paxton will represent the team, as well as Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft and two Patriots’ cheerleaders.

The ticker-tape parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. and go down Congress Street from Congress Square to Monument Square. The parade will be led by the 65-piece U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty and will be followed by a rally in Monument Square.

The parade is being held to welcome home Maine soldiers who have or are in the process of coming home from the current conflict in Iraq. In addition to the active servicemen and women in Maine, the event will honor veterans who served in past conflicts as well as heroes from the Police and Fire departments.

For more information on the celebration, visit www.portlandmaine.gov.