This season of Patriots football will be dedicated to something more than just the pursuit of a fourth championship since the turn of the century. In late July, the team suffered the loss of Myra Kraft, owner Robert Kraft's wife of 48 years. In their Week 1 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, Patriots players wore a patch that read Myra’s initials, MHK, just above their hearts, and will continue to do so for the remainder of the season.
This Sunday, when the Patriots will take on the San Diego Chargers from Gillette Stadium for their 2011 home opener, the team will hand out 70,000 MHK lapel pins before the game, allowing fans to join the entire Patriots organization in honoring Myra's legacy.
The pins will be given to fans entering the stadium and will be available for purchase in the team store to benefit the Myra Kraft Giving Back Scholarship fund for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
In 1994, Myra started the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, which has just kicked off its season initiative of "Celebrating Volunteerism," and will honor outstanding individuals with the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award.