From Maine, Elizabeth  & her granddaughter Elizabeth show their Patriots spirit!

Jillian and her husband Doyle, LA Rams fans, sending love from California to the Patriots in Super Bowl 51.

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com

From coast to coast my family is united with New England Patriots spirit! Like the country in which we live, our family spans from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans. Also like the country in which we live our roots are in New England.

A number of relatives now call other regions of the country home and have affiliations to different teams. Nonetheless, ever the idealist I wondered – even if that were the case – could we come together behind the National Football League Pats as they head to Super Bowl 51?

A tall order I suppose, one easier for me residing in Connecticut, Patriots territory. As it turns out, I learned New England and family loyalty runs deep for us.

Go Pats! Dixie, Candy, Mike, Melane and me in beautiful Marlborough, Connecticut.

Let’s follow the Patriots spirit east to west: from Connecticut, north to Maine, with an honorary mention for New Hampshire where so many of our happy memories were shared on what once was the Bennett Family Farm, to New York, down south to Florida, over to Colorado, we also have a Texas connection, and then ‘go west’ to the Golden State of California.

Bob in Florida

Joining the fun from Florida is my cousin Robert E. Bennett, “Bob”. In Bob’s photo take notice of the Clemson hat (congrats to Clemson University Football on the recent national championship) yet he has fighting words on behalf of the Pats as they take on the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. That’s to be expected because Bob describes himself as a “lifelong Patriots fan.”

A.K.A. – The G.O.A.T. – the greatest of all time.

Patriots Strong back here in Connecticut, my sisters Dixie Larned and Candy Bennett along with my nephew Mike Larned, his wife Melane and I, decked out in our Patriots gear will kick off Super Bowl Sunday by meeting February 5 for breakfast.

From there we will drive to pick up our “Remy’s Grinders” before the game, which is scheduled to get underway at 6:30 p.m. eastern standard time on FOX TV. We plan to keep our fingers crossed that his teammates protect our Hall-of-Fame bound, multiple Super Bowl winning quarterback, Tom Brady, nicknamed “Tom Terrific” or “The G.O.A.T.” – greatest of all time. Brady and Head Coach Bill Belichick, dubbed by CNN reporter Jill Martin as “the greatest NFL head coach-quarterback combination”, will make an historic seventh return to the Super Bowl.

Inside their Connecticut home, my brother John Jr. and sister-in-law Jane (dual Cowboys and Patriots fans) will be cheering for the Pats in Super Bowl 51.

My brother John Jr. and my sister-in-law Jane will be cheering for a Patriots victory nestled inside their lovely Connecticut cape. Here’s the Texas connection – John met Jane, his bride-to-be, while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in Texas. He recalls fondly watching the Dallas Cowboys on television with Jane’s brother-in-law Wesley. Having returned to Connecticut to live, John and Jane have a “dual affection” for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, my brother noted. (Of course, UConn Women’s Basketball rivals their affection for any team!)

Start spreading the news … from New York another of my nephews will join us in cheering for the Pats.

Bennett Family Farm – my grandmother, uncle, aunt and cousins lived here.

Stalwart Patriots fans !

Ayuh, up in Maine, my cousin Elizabeth Schofield “Betty Jane” and her granddaughter Elizabeth Cyr are showing their Patriots spirit. From Maine, Betty Jane will head to Colorado to watch the Super Bowl with fellow Pats fans, her son Brad Pope, his wife Kathleen and their sons Kieran, 14, and Gabe, 13. Originally from New Hampshire, Brad grew up skiing the snowcapped mountains of New England.

From Colorado, Patriots fans, Brad with his wife Kathleen and their sons Kieran, 14 (standing) and Gabe, 13.

“The fever is rising. Hope Tom is more than terrific,” said Betty Jane. (In addition to “Tom Terrific”, my cousin has a soft spot for – how dare she mention the name – Giants QB Eli Manning.)

We’ve made it to the West Coast where from sunny California, my niece Jillian and her husband Doyle, Los Angeles Rams fans, are sending love to the Patriots. As we’re known to say here in New England – that’s WICKED great!!

How amazing and gratifying to realize our family not only represents support for the Patriots – across the United States – but as well across three generations. Thanks everyone. Come Sunday – Go Pats!