Patriots owner Robert Kraft left a touching note on the seat of each Parkland student who traveled on his team’s jet to fly to the anti-gun march in Washington, DC
Patriots owner Robert Kraft left a touching note on the seat of each Parkland student who traveled on his team’s jet to fly to the anti-gun march in Washington, DC.
‘On behalf of the New England Patriots organization, I want to express our support as you travel to Washington for this weekend’s March for Our Lives,’ the letter reads.
‘In the wake of incredible tragedy, we have hurt for you, mourned with you and been inspired by you. It is an honor for us to now partner with you as you push for progress,’ Kraft continued.
On Thursday, the families and students from Parkland, were transported to DC ahead of the march against gun violence that took place on Saturday.
Some of the students who were transported by the Patriots’ jet were injured in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 staffers and students dead.
Patriots spokesman Stacey James told the Boston Globe last week that Kraft decided to donate his Boeing wide-body 767, called ‘AirKraft,’ when Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, reached out to him and asked for the favor.
‘Your community is stirring our country towards a better future. That is the true mark of a patriot. Thank you for your leadership and inspiration. Best wishes as you prepare for takeoff on your journey. We are all Patriots,’ Kraft said in the letter.
‘Your community is stirring our country towards a better future. That is the true mark of a patriot. Thank you for your leadership and inspiration. Best wishes as you prepare for takeoff on your journey. We are all Patriots,’ Kraft said in the letter (pictured)
On Thursday, the families and students from Parkland, were transported to DC ahead of the march against gun violence that took place on Saturday. Student Kali Clougherty shared this photo on Twitter thanking the Patriots for allowing them to fly on their jet
‘Heading to D.C. & I’m so thankful to be here with so many amazing people. Thank you @Patriots for donating your plane to help us get to D.C.! And always so happy to have @isabelabarry by my side through everything I do’ student Sawyer Rayne shared last week
Some of the students (pictured) who were transported by the Patriots’ jet were injured in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 staffers and students dead
The letter also included a quote from American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: ‘Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed that’s all who ever have.’
‘This is not fair that they have to deal with something like this at their age. They wanted to go to Washington and be heard, and so I felt it was our obligation to help them.’
‘No report other than they took off and everyone was happy,’ James said, after adding he didn’t know if any players were on the flight, and Kraft was not travelling with the group.
The Patriots owner has been a friend and supporter of President Donald Trump, who faced backlash over his slow response to the tragedy, although the president has since said he supports more gun control laws.
Some of the students shared photos from their time on the plane as well as boarding the flight as they headed to the march where thousands protested gun violence.
Kraft shakes President Trump’s hands during the team’s visit to the White House in 2017
Luxury ride: The 767 Boeing has first-class configurations with some of the seats fully reclining
The plane was unveiled in October, and it’s one of two jets the Patriots purchased.
The airplane designs follow the team’s traditional red, white and blue colorway and features its Minuteman profile logo and team name.
The design also includes five red stars on the body and five Lombardi trophies on the tail fin, highlighting the team’s five Super Bowl wins.
When the Patriots purchased the two 767 Boeings, they had the existing seats removed.
They replaced them with first-class configurations only.
Some of those new seats are even the lie-flat design, the type typically sported on planes doing long-haul international flights.
More than one million Americans came out for Saturday’s event in Washington, DC
Students are seen ahead of the march in DC on Saturday