Billerica – Each September the Town of Billerica pays tribute to its patriotic heritage with a weekend of festivities known as Yankee Doodle Homecoming. The centerpiece of this event is the annual homecoming parade. Each year the Billerica Police Department has invited law enforcement Honor Guards to participate in an Honor Guard competition. The event has drawn police departments from as far away as Washington D.C. and Virginia. This year the parade will feature many of the police agencies and special units that were the heroes of this April’s Boston Marathon bombings, including the MIT Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Massachusetts State Police STOP Team, the MBTA Transit Police, and over 25 police Honor Guards from around Greater Boston, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and New York.

Helping to lead this year’s parade will be the MIT Police Honor Guard. As most people are aware, MIT Police Officer Sean Collier was tragically killed in the line of duty during the early morning hours of April 18, 2013 at the hands of the perpetrators of the Marathon Bombings. Officer Collier will be recognized in a special tribute by the Billerica Police Department and the many assembled police agencies in a private ceremony following the parade.

This year’s parade will be held Saturday Sep 14, 2013. The parade begins at 10am. The parade route begins at 480 Boston Rd, and finishes at 15 Floyd St, Billerica. For more information go to http://www.yankeedoodlehomecoming.org/

Any additional questions should be directed to Deputy Chief Roy Frost, 978-667-1212 x120