Citizens for Milford

Citizens for Milford is postponing the installation of the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags this year in an abundance of caution to safeguard our volunteers and citizens. The first installation had been planned for Memorial Day. The group is hopeful that this public health crisis will have eased by early July so that the Field of Flags will fly for Independence Day. However, even the July date is not guaranteed, and that possibility will be reassessed in June.

Because Citizens for Milford will be unable to install the flags for the normal five patriotic holidays, the group plans to prorate the cost of the sponsorship for everyone who chooses to renew or sponsor a flag in 2020. That amount will be determined when the first installation date has been decided.  

In the meantime, Citizens for Milford is delaying the acceptance of renewals and new sponsorships. Previous sponsors will be sent a notice with the finalized information once it has been determined.

Field of Flags Chairperson Peter Scandone states, “Members of Citizens for Milford, the Milford Corps of the Salvation Army, and our many local volunteers are deeply proud to organize the Field of Flags to honor the heroism of our veterans and active duty service members. Please join us in praying for the restored health of the community as we all look forward to the day we can all gather together again.”

Questions may be emailed to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

Citizens for Milford is continuing its partnership with the Milford Corps of the Salvation Army to expand the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags, a tribute acknowledging the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active military personnel with a display of American flags placed in Draper Memorial Park on five patriotic holidays each year. The first display of this year is planned for May 20 in time for Memorial Day.

All area citizens, organizations, and businesses are invited to sponsor a 3′ x 5′ American flag to fly on a 10′ staff in Draper Memorial Park for a $60 donation. Previous sponsors are encouraged to renew their flag sponsorship for another year. Although renewals have been requested before Veterans Day during previous years, Citizens for Milford has restructured the sponsorship period to coincide with the calendar year.

The $60 donation sponsors a flag in Draper Park for all five of the following patriotic holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day.

Sponsors can choose to honor a veteran (alive or deceased), an active member of the military, or all our nation’s veterans.

Each flag includes a yellow ribbon with an attached card naming the person being honored, the honoree’s military branch and years of service, and the sponsor’s name. Sponsors can personalize each flag by providing a photo if desired. Citizens for Milford laminates the name cards and photos so they can be attached to each flagpole. The laminated cards and photos are typically attached the day after the flags are installed in the ground.

Field of Flags Chairperson Peter Scandone says, “Each flag honors the heroism of our many local veterans and active duty service members. Our goal is to have every one of the flags renewed and to gather enough new flag sponsorships so that we will be installing even more flags this Memorial Day.”

Flag sponsors Stephanie Fino and Stephen Laczenski state, “We are so proud to visit the Draper Park Field of Flags that are displayed during patriotic holidays throughout the year. It is comforting to see our Dad next to all the veterans of all the wars who fought so bravely for our country to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today.”

To sponsor a flag for the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags project, click here to download and print the sponsorship form, then complete the form and mail it to the address provided on the form with a $60 check made out to the Salvation Army before May 11. If you prefer to have a form mailed to you, email us at CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

Citizens for Milford and the Salvation Army organize all the work involved in managing the Field of Flags, including everything from maintaining sponsorship information to transporting and storing the flags. Both groups are extremely grateful for the assistance provided by volunteers from other Milford groups. Volunteers from Milford Federal Bank and the Milford Junior Woman’s Club, as well as many flag sponsors, often assist with the installation and take-down of the flags. All residents are welcome to help.

The majority of funds donated by flag sponsors are used to support the work of the Salvation Army here in Milford, specifically for food assistance and after-school activities for families in need. Citizens for Milford receives a small amount to pay for supplies, such as the yellow ribbons, card stock, and laminating materials. Like the flags, these materials need to be replaced periodically due to weather exposure.

Draper Memorial Park occupies a triangle of land in the downtown Milford area, located at the intersection of Congress Street and Main Street. The park features monuments that list the names of veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Standing tall in the park is the statue of General William Franklin Draper by sculptor Daniel Chester French, whose work also includes the massive marble statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The care and management of Draper Memorial Park falls under the authority of the Milford Parks Commission and Milford Veterans Services. Citizens for Milford is grateful for both office’s enthusiastic support for this project.

Take Advantage of Other Ways to Get Informed!

Citizens for Milford has cancelled the Candidates Forum in an effort to keep everyone—candidates, voters, and volunteers—safe during this challenging time of public health concerns. The forum had been scheduled for Thursday, March 19.

We understand that the public health situation is changing rapidly. If the Town decides to pursue actions to postpone the April 7th election, we will reevaluate and plan to hold the forum at a later date.

In the meantime, voters can read candidate profiles and other pertinent information on the 2020 MILFORD CANDIDATES page on this website. Contact information is included so you can email questions directly to the candidates. 

In addition, we recommend that you take advantage of other ways to get informed, such as reading profiles in the Town Crier, Milford Daily News, Patch online news, as well as watching the interviews and debates broadcast on Milford TV and aired on MyFM 101.3.

Candidate testimonials can be viewed on the Milford Election 2020 page of Milford TV’s video on-demand site: Milford.vod.castus.tv/vod. In addition, voters can watch candidate interviews conducted by Al Correia on “That Milford Show” on youtube.com.

Please know how disappointed we are to be cancelling this important community event! We appreciate every candidate’s commitment to the community as a candidate for office and encourage every Milford voter to go to the polls on April 7th to VOTE!

What Else You Need to Know:
News About the Town Election from the Town Clerk

The Town of Milford is closely monitoring the current public health situation including the Corona virus. There is no current expectation that the April 7th Annual Town Election will be cancelled or rescheduled.

A postponement or cancellation of the election would require either a change in the law or a Court order, or both. The Town Clerk and Board of Registrars will take all reasonable and appropriate measures to maintain our polling locations clean and disinfected throughout Election Day.

Voters who may be quarantined due to illness, or self-quarantined, will qualify to vote by Absentee Ballot, and are encouraged to apply for an Absentee Ballot as soon as possible to ensure sufficient time for mailing. Voters who already applied for and plan to vote by absentee ballot, but now have a mailing address which is different from their address as currently registered, are requested to contact our office as soon as possible. This request may apply to college students or those traveling abroad.

Please check the Town Website for Board of Health and Elections updates, as the situation continues to develop.

REMINDER! The last day to register to vote in the Town Election is Wednesday, March 18 by 8:00 p.m. in the Town Clerk’s office.

Candidates Forum to be Held Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the Meet and Greet with the Candidates.

Citizens for Milford invites all Milford residents to attend its seventh annual Candidates Forum, which will feature candidates in Milford’s upcoming town election. The Candidates Forum will be held Thursday, March 19 in the Parish Hall of Saint Mary of the Assumption Church in Milford. Candidates will be available to meet voters starting at 6:30 p.m. The forum will start at 7:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Each of the candidates in the four contested races will present a two-minute opening statement and then answer questions. Citizens for Milford will pose the first question then the moderators will invite members of the audience to ask questions of the candidates.

The contested races and candidates include the following:

• Two Seats on the Board of Library Trustees
  Candidates: Edward Bertorelli (incumbent), David Probert, Ann Ragosta, Alfred Spittler, and Scott Vecchiolla
• One Seat on the Board of Selectmen
  Candidates: Joshua Lioce and Thomas O’Loughlin.
• Highway Surveyor
  Candidates: Scott Crisafulli (incumbent) and Jamie Luchini.
• Two Seats on the School Committee
  Candidates: Michael Aghajanian, Jennifer Parson (incumbent), Brendan Rickert, and Frederick Steinmann.

Recognizing the service of all our town candidates, Citizens for Milford has also invited all unopposed candidates to attend and to meet voters during the “meet and greet” time, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Citizens for Milford Chairman Steve Trettel will welcome the candidates and attendees. Vice Chairman Beverly Swymer and member Jose Costa will moderate the event.

“The forum provides an ideal opportunity for residents to meet the candidates, hear their ideas for our community, and discover where they each stand on critical issues. We encourage all Milford voters to join us and to come prepared with questions to ask the candidates,” stated Steve Trettel.

Milford voters who are unable to attend the forum are encouraged to email questions in advance to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com. The group will make every effort to ensure those questions are posed to the candidates the night of the forum.

Photograph from the 2019 Candidates Forum featuring candidates for School Committee.

Milford TV will video record the forum and broadcast it in the days leading up to the election on April 7. Citizens for Milford will also provide a link to the video on its website as soon as it is available.

The Town Crier newspaper is once again Citizens for Milford’s media partner for the Candidates Forum. “As Milford’s local newspaper, delivered to all homes and businesses in town, The Town Crier strongly believes in encouraging citizen participation in Milford’s town government,” said Publisher Alfred Holman.

The Parish Hall of Saint Mary of the Assumption Church is located at 17 Winter Street in Milford. Parking is available in the adjacent lot and on neighborhood streets. Main entry into the Parish Hall is located on the side of the building that faces Sumner Street. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Census Bureau, Board of Health Officials, and Downtown Revitalization Committee to be Guests at Citizens for Milford’s Public Meeting  at Town Library. All Milford Residents Invited to Attend.

Citizens for Milford invites all residents to attend our first public meeting of the new year on Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the Milford Town Library. A representative from the Census Bureau, as well as Milford Board of Health officials and members of the Milford Downtown Revitalization committee, will be our special guests.

Elie Boutros, a Partnership Specialist with the Census Bureau, will be the first speaker on the agenda, giving a ten-minute presentation regarding the 2020 census. This presentation will be followed by Dr. Jacquelyn Murphy, who took over the reins as Milford’s new Health Officer this past fall. Dr. Murphy will present information about all the services the Board of Health offers the community. Lastly, Ron Pagnini, Chairman of the Milford Downtown Revitalization committee, will share news of their efforts to improve the downtown corridor.

Citizens for Milford Chairman Steve Trettel and Vice Chairman Beverly Swymer will invite attendees to ask questions following each of the three presentations.

“Citizens for Milford organizes a casual public meeting every January with the goal of providing direct access to our public officials. Because the success of our public institutions and committees is critical to all members of our community, we invite all residents to join us on January 30th to learn more about what is happening in Milford and to ask questions of importance to you,” says Chairman Steve Trettel.

The Milford Town Library is located at 80 Spruce Street. The meeting will be held in the library’s Granite and Quarry rooms on the lower level. Limited parking is available at the library. Additional parking is available on Spruce Street and at nearby Stacy Middle School.

Citizens for Milford hosted the Fifth Annual Milford Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, November 29, 2019. Despite the cold, Milford residents young and old joined us to launch the holiday season in historic Draper Memorial Park.

Highlights of this year’s event included the holiday carol sing-along led by members of the Greater Milford Community Chorus, as well as a special visit from Santa Claus.

We extend our sincerest appreciation to every individual, group, and business who helped make the 2019 Milford Christmas Tree and the Lighting Ceremony possible. Thank you Parks Department for your support and assistance with the lighting of the tree–as well as the new special lighting of the park! We continue to extend sincere gratitude to Milford resident and owner of Busy Bee Landscaping Mr. David Sanches who donated and planted the existing tree last year, which serves as a symbol of peace and goodwill to Milford citizens for now and for generations to come. We also express heartfelt thanks to the Greater Milford Community Chorus for leading us all in holiday carols, Red Heat Tavern of Milford for providing hot cocoa and soup, and Milford Public Schools Food Service for donating fresh-baked cookies. Last but not least, thank you Milford Commandery No. 11 stationed at Montgomery Lodge for funding the holiday lighting last year–the tree and its lights are a gift that keeps on giving! Everyone’s generosity and collaboration enabled us to provide the best possible community event this year.

The Milford Christmas Tree will be lit each night throughout the holiday season. If you missed the ceremony, be sure to stop by Draper Park one evening to take in its glow. It’s a beautiful spot for family photos. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Check out all our photos on our Facebook album.

Milford residents came together on Monday, November 11, 2019 to honor and thank our valiant veterans during the Veterans Day Parade and ceremony. The Milford Medal of Liberty Committee and Citizens for Milford were honored to host this year’s ceremony in Draper Memorial Park at the conclusion of the parade, during which several guests spoke about their own and their families’ military experiences and sacrifices.

We express our deepest gratitude to all our veterans. We also thank all the Milford residents who not only marched and participated in the parade, but also those enthusiastic folks who stationed themselves along the parade route to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families.

Lastly, we also extend sincerest gratitude to the Milford Veterans Services Department and the Milford Parks Commission for enthusiastically supporting both the Veterans Day Ceremony and the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags project. We also thank the leadership and students in the Milford High School Music Department for performing at the Veterans Day Ceremony.

• Watch a video of the parade and ceremony, courtesy of Milford TV.
• See nearly 100 photos of the day’s events on our Facebook page.
• Read coverage in the Milford Daily News.

IMPORTANT! The Veterans Day Ceremony WILL be Held in Draper Park on Monday Following the Parade. PLEASE JOIN US in Honoring Our Veterans.

The Milford Medal of Liberty Committee and Citizens for Milford invite all area veterans and residents to attend the Third Veterans Day Ceremony, to be held Monday, November 11 in Draper Memorial Park, weather permitting. The ceremony will begin immediately following the conclusion of the Veterans Day Parade at approximately 11:00 a.m.

The Veterans Day Ceremony will begin with a prayer from Father Peter Joyce of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, followed by the sharing of war-time stories by area veterans and their families. Medal of Liberty Chairperson Peter Scandone will preside over the ceremony. Music will be performed by the Milford High School Marching Band and a Milford High School quartet.

Making remarks regarding military service will be US Army veteran Steven Petak speaking about his service in Vietnam; Angela Manella Kantor sharing the experiences of her father US Air Force Lt Col Joseph Richard Manella as a prisoner of war during World War II, and Ed Cormier speaking about his brother US Marine Corps Private Eugene Cormier, who was killed in Vietnam during Operation KINGFISHER.

The Field of Flags, a tribute acknowledging the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active military personnel, will be installed in Draper Memorial Park the Wednesday before Veterans Day. Parade and ceremony attendees are invited to walk among the flags and monuments in Draper Park and read the names of the veterans and active military who are memorialized and honored there.

Peter Scandone says, “Generations of Milford men and women have served our community and country honorably and heroically. We encourage all residents to join us for the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony to show our support and gratitude.”

If the weather is excessively cold or rainy, the committee will hold the ceremony inside at the Italian American Veterans Hall (4 Hayward Field, Milford) following the parade. Notification about this change of venue will be posted on the Citizens for Milford Facebook page and website on Sunday, November 10. If the parade is cancelled due to rain, the Veterans Day Ceremony will be held in the spring following the Memorial Day Parade.

The Milford Medal of Liberty Committee and Citizens for Milford extend sincerest gratitude to the Milford Veterans Services Department and the Milford Parks Commission for enthusiastically supporting both the Veterans Day Ceremony and the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags project. We also thank the leadership and students in the Milford High School Music Department for performing at the Veterans Day Ceremony.

Draper Memorial Park occupies a triangle of land in the downtown Milford area, located at the intersection of Congress Street and Main Street. The park features monuments that list the names of veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Standing tall in the park is the statue of General William Franklin Draper by sculptor Daniel Chester French, whose work also includes the massive marble statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The care and management of Draper Memorial Park falls under the authority of the Milford Parks Commission and Milford Veterans Services.

About the Milford Medal of Liberty Committee
The Milford Medal of Liberty Committee is dedicated to honoring the families of all of Milford’s fallen heroes who are qualified to receive the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty. Committee members also work to promote this honor to families in surrounding communities.