Foxborough Has One More Super Bowl Rally for New England Patriots (VIDEO)

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Walk around Foxborough the day before past Super Bowls and chances are that you wouldn't be able to tell that one of the NFL's most successful franchises played minutes down the road. That is no longer the case following the efforts of town officials and local volunteers.

"We're the home of the New England Patriots. Why shouldn't we celebrate?" Town Manager Bill Keegan said as residents gathered in the center of town for Saturday afternoon's pre-Super Bowl LI rally.

The idea for the rally came from Lynda Walsh, who brought her proposal to the Foxboro Jaycees during a late January meeting. While there has been horn honking following Super Bowl wins and an appearance by the Vince Lombardi trophy at Founders Day, the town has not done much in the lead up to the Super Bowl until this time around.

"I said 'look, I don't know what the town is doing but it's time for us to step up,'" Walsh said. "Little by little it's grown and then you have this rally today, it's perfect."

The town instantly got behind Walsh's idea. Selectman Jim DeVellis, Heather Harding, and Rev. Bill Dudley helped Walsh and the Jaycees hang signs made by members of the fire department on the fence around the common. More signs were to come, with kids making their own to put up at the rally.

"I couldn't have been happier. It only takes one person to bring an idea forward and everyone embraced it and we're grateful for (Walsh) for doing that," DeVellis said. "For all the years I've been a selectman it's the first time we've put signs at the common, first time we put up a Patriots flag. I didn't know what to expect but the positive reaction from the entire town was phenomenal to see."

Selectman Chris Mitchell read a proclamation declaring Sunday to be New England Patriots Day in Foxborough, along with a proclamation from the State House declaring Foxborough as the true home of the Patriots.

Despite being in Houston, the Patriots will be able to get a glimpse of the hometown rally. Foxboro Cable Access said they are sending the footage to the team for the players to view Saturday night.

More celebrations are in the works. DeVellis told the crowd to be on the lookout for an announcement of a post-Super Bowl rally in the near future.

Image Credit: Dan Libon