Patriots Help Beautify Milford, Honor Volunteers

The Greenleaf Garden Club, which maintains the planters across town and helps beautify Milford's barren spaces, had a surprise helper Tuesday.

Ron Brace, a defensive lineman for the New England Patriots, helped the garden club members plant some mums at the Milford Town Library and at the base of the World War II memorial in Draper Memorial Park.

Brace was participating in a Patriots program that selects players for volunteer jobs, called Celebrate Volunteerism, created in 2011 to honor Myrna Kraft, the late wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The Patriots chose Milford and its garden club for this week's event, said Donna Spigarolo, the community relations coordinator for the Patriots.

Brace was up to the task, digging in to the work, signing autographs and posing for pictures. The Worcester native was drafted by the Patriots in the second round in 2009. He is a graduate of Boston College.

As part of the day's events, Brace presented the Patriots Difference Maker of the Week award to Kathi Garvin, nurse-manager for the Walpole Public School system.