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To attain its goal of presenting a Massachusetts Medal of Liberty to all the families of Milfordians who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country, the Milford Medal of Liberty Committee is asking all area residents for their help in identifying surviving kin of seventeen servicemen for whom no family information is currently available.

The Massachusetts Medal of Liberty is an honor awarded in the name of the Governor of Massachusetts as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth to the family of any Massachusetts serviceman or woman killed in action or who died as a result of wounds received in action.

The Milford Medal of Liberty Committee needs family contact information for the following servicemen. Family members could include spouses, siblings, children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, or cousins.

• Robert A. Craddock, S. Army, (1913 – 1945)
• Anthony Grudinsky, U.S. Army, (1922 – 1945)
• Paul T. Hayes, U.S. Army, (1909 – 1945)
• John G. Hising, Jr., U.S. Army, (1917 – 1943)
• Donal T. Kirby, U.S. Army, (1918 – 1944)
• Orville W. Lapham, U.S. Army, (1916 – 1944)
• Lester C. Lavoie, U.S. Marine Corps, (1928 – 1950)
• Oscar A. Lundgren, (1897 – 1944)
• Ralph Maxfield, U.S. Navy, (1923 – 1950)
• Hiram J. Philpot, U.S. Army, (1907 – 1944)
• Thomas F. Rogers, U.S. Army, (1923 – 1944)
• Harold W. Rogerson, U.S. Army, (1916 – 1944)
• James V. Rooney, U.S. Navy, (1931 – 1953)
• David H. Rubenstein, U.S. Army, (1925 – 1944)
• Theodore J. Tusoni, U.S. Army, (1924 – 1944)
• Joseph J. Von Flatern, Jr., U.S. Army, (1925 – 1944)
• Harold I. White, U.S. Army, (1916 – 1945)

Read more details about these servicemen here.

Residents who have information or possible leads on where to find the family members of any of these servicemen are asked to contact one of the Medal of Liberty Committee members:

• Vincent Cifizzari
  Send email to Vinniecif@yahoo.com or call 774.287.0004
• Jo-Ann De Maria Morgan
  Send email to joann.d.morgan@verizon.net or call 508.435.9602
• Peter Scandone
  Send email to pscandone4@outlook.com or call 774.573.5335

Information can also be sent by email to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

Committee member Vincent Cifizzari says, “We will be sincerely grateful to all members of our community who can help identify the families of these seventeen fallen heroes. It will be our honor to do the work necessary to ensure each family is recognized and presented with a Medal of Liberty as a small gesture of appreciation for their loved one’s service and sacrifice.”

Nearly seventy Milford servicemen qualify for the Medal of Liberty, including the seventeen for whom the committee seeks family information. The first medals were presented this past Veterans Day to the surviving family members of eight Milfordians who were killed in action during World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq.

The Medal of Liberty Committee and Citizens for Milford plan to present the medal to as many of the remaining families as possible at its next ceremony, which will be held Sunday, May 20 at 2:00 p.m. in Milford Town Hall.

Learn more on the VETERANS page.

To download and print our flyer to share with others, click here.

Milford Parks Director and Commissioners to Answer Questions at Citizens for Milford’s Public Meeting on January 30 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 Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the Milford Town Library.

Milford Parks Director Michael Bresciani and Parks Commission members Joseph F. Arcudi, Paul J. Braza, and Paul Pellegrini will be our special guests.

“A key component of Citizens for Milford’s mission is to host casual public meetings that provide direct access to our public officials. We encourage residents to join us on January 30th to meet Mr. Bresciani and the Parks Commissioners and ask them questions regarding all of Milford’s parks and athletic fields,” says Chairman Steve Trettel.

Additional agenda items include a discussion of projects and events that Citizens for Milford has planned for 2018, such as the Candidates Forum, Beautification Day, the Medal of Liberty Ceremony, the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags, and the Christmas Tree Lighting.

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 Third Annual Milford Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in historic Draper Memorial Park on December 2, 2017. Now an annual community tradition for many of Milford’s families and residents, this year we were thrilled to once again host Santa Claus and the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet. Long-time Milford resident Cheryl Miller led the sing-along of Christmas carols before we counted down to light the tree.

Citizens for Milford extends its sincerest appreciation to everyone who helped make the Milford Christmas Tree and the Lighting Ceremony possible. We thank the Milford Parks Department, as well as Milford resident and owner of Busy Bee Landscaping Mr. David Sanches who donated and planted a beautiful new tree that we hope will serve as a symbol of peace and goodwill to Milford citizens for generations to come. Thank you David!

The Milford Christmas Tree will be lit each night throughout the holiday season. If you missed the ceremony last night, 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!

See more photographs on our Facebook page.

Milford Christmas Tree Lighting Planned for Saturday, December 2nd, in Draper Memorial Park at 6:00 p.m.

Citizens for Milford is planning the Third Annual Milford Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Draper Memorial Park on the evening of Saturday, December 2. All Milford residents are invited to arrive at 6:00 p.m. for cookies and hot chocolate. The tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m. This community event is free and open to everyone.

Highlights of this year’s event will include holiday music played by the Claflin Hill Symphony Brass Quintet, as well as a special visit from Santa Claus. Santa will arrive at 6:00 p.m. and will visit with kids and families until the event ends at 7:00 p.m. Families are encouraged to take their own photos with Santa.

Event chairwoman Nancy Wojick states, “Citizens for Milford invites all Milford residents to join us for the third year of this new holiday tradition. The ceremony provides a wonderful opportunity for Milford families and neighbors to gather, even for a short while, as a community to celebrate the peace and joy of the season.”

If it rains or snows heavily on December 2, Citizens for Milford plans to light the tree at 6:30 p.m. but will scale back other activities as needed.

Draper Memorial Park occupies a triangle of land in the downtown Milford area, located at the intersection of Congress Street and Main Street. Parking is available in lots behind Main Street businesses.

Each Newly Sponsored Flag Will Be Placed in Draper Memorial Park for Five Patriotic Holidays Starting this Veterans Day. Last Year’s Sponsors Are Invited to Renew Their Sponsorship!

Citizens for Milford and the Milford Corps of the Salvation Army invite all area citizens, organizations, and businesses to sponsor an American flag to fly in 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 next display will be installed this Veterans Day.

Each sponsored flag measures 3′ x 5′ and flies on a 10′ staff. 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 choose to honor a veteran (alive or deceased), an active member of the military, or all our nation’s veterans.

Previous sponsors are encouraged to renew their flag sponsorship for another year.

Your $60 tax-deductible donation sponsors a flag in Draper Park for all five of the following patriotic holidays: Veterans Day 2017 and Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day 2018.

Field of Flags Chairperson Peter Scandone says, “Since we launched the Field of Flags last Veterans Day, we have accepted sponsorships for over 100 flags, each one honoring the heroism of our many local veterans and active duty service members. Our goal is to have every one of those flags renewed and to gather enough new flag sponsorships so that we will be installing 200 flags this Veterans Day.”

To sponsor a flag OR to renew a previous flag sponsorship, citizens need to print and complete this form and mail it to the address provided with a $60 check made out to the Salvation Army before November 3. Requests for a printed sponsorship form can be submitted by email to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

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.

We invite you to watch the following “30 Minutes with the Town Crier” interview with Citizens for Milford about the DRAPER MEMORIAL PARK FIELD OF FLAGS program and the special events we have planned for the celebration of Veterans Day on Friday, November 10.

To renew your Field of Flags sponsorship OR to sponsor a flag for the first time, please print this form and return to the address listed with your $60 tax-deductible donation.

EVERYONE is welcome to sponsor a flag. You may sponsor a flag to honor a veteran, an active member of the military, or all veterans. You do not need to be a Milford resident to sponsor a flag.

To read more details about the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags, click here.

Please email questions to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

Thank you!

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 to be placed in Draper Memorial Park on five patriotic holidays each year. The next display will be installed this Veterans 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. Each flag will include 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 choose to honor a veteran (alive or deceased), an active member of the military, or all our nation’s veterans. Previous sponsors are encouraged to renew their flag sponsorship for another year.

The $60 donation sponsors a flag in Draper Park for all five of the following patriotic holidays: Veterans Day 2017 and Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day 2018.

Field of Flags Chairperson Peter Scandone says, “Since we launched the Field of Flags last Veterans Day, we have accepted sponsorships for over 100 flags, each one honoring the heroism of our many local veterans and active duty service members. Our goal is to have every one of those flags renewed and to gather enough new flag sponsorships so that we will be installing 200 flags this Veterans Day.”

To sponsor a flag for the “Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags” project, citizens need to download and complete this  form and mail it to the address provided on the form with a $60 check made out to the Salvation Army before November 3.  Anyone who is renewing a flag sponsorship can simply mail the check without the form as long as the sponsorship information has not changed.

NEW THIS YEAR!
Medals of Liberty and Missing Man Table Ceremonies Planned for Veterans Day Ceremony Following the Parade

All area residents are invited to join us for the annual Veterans Day Parade on Friday, November 10 and to attend the Field of Flags Dedication Ceremony, which will immediately follow the parade in Draper Memorial Park. Citizens for Milford anticipates the ceremony will begin at approximately 11:00 a.m. For the first time, the ceremony will feature the distribution of Medals of Liberty to the families of eight Milford residents who were killed in action. Another new highlight this year will be the Missing Man Table remembrance ceremony, which honors military members missing in action. Music will be performed by the Milford High School Band.

If the parade is cancelled due to rain, the Medals of Liberty Distribution and Missing Man Table ceremonies will be held in the Italian-American Veterans Club, located at 4 Hayward Field.

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.

For more details about the Field of Flags, click here.

The Town of Milford will be holding a Special Town Election on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. Polls will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Precincts 1 & 6 vote at the Milford Senior Center (60 North Bow St.)
• Precincts 2 & 3 vote at the Italian American Veterans Hall (4 Hayward Field)
• Precincts 4, 5, 7, & 8 vote at the Milford Portuguese Club (119 Prospect Heights)

If you are unsure which precinct you are in, please call the Town Clerk’s office at (508) 634-2308 or enter your address in the Secretary of State’s website.

On the ballot will be ONE question, which asks voters whether or not they want to allow recreational marijuana establishments to operate in Milford.

Massachusetts voters approved the use of recreational marijuana through Ballot Question 4 in November 2016. This law allows adults 21 and over to possess, grow, and use marijuana for recreational purposes.

Possession and use of medicinal marijuana as recommended by a doctor was legalized in Massachusetts in 2012. Per Massachusetts law medicinal marijuana can only be purchased at a medical marijuana treatment center.

Massachusetts and Maine will be the first states in New England to legalize the use and sales of recreational marijuana. Other than Washington, D.C., no other states along the East Coast have legalized recreational marijuana. Recreational sales will be legal in Maine in February 2018. Sales in Massachusetts will be legal July 2018.

Read the original Massachusetts law (Chapter 94G: Drug Stewardship Program) here.

Read the revisions to the law in the House Bill (3818) signed by Governor Baker on July 28, 2017 here.

Milford’s Ballot Question

The ballot question to be voted on September 19th in Milford has NO IMPACT on anyone’s personal freedom to possess, grow, and consume medical marijuana OR recreational marijuana. The question provides Milford voters the opportunity to opt out of hosting recreational marijuana establishments in our community. This option was included in the Massachusetts legislation that was approved by voters. 

Editor’s Note: The following ballot sample is the final version, which was changed due to the revised state legislation signed by Governor Baker on July 28, 2017.

To download and print a copy of the sample ballot, click here.

Milford CARES will be holding the COMMUNITY FORUM ON RECREATIONAL IN MILFORD Tuesday, September 12th  at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Hall of Milford Town Hall, located at 52 Main Street in Milford. This event is intended for all Milford citizens who have lingering questions regarding the September 19th Special Town Election on recreational marijuana and the consequences of living with recreational marijuana establishments in our community.

Milford CARES Chairwoman Donna Niro urges all Milford residents who are concerned about recreational pot shops, especially those who are still looking for answers, to attend. Niro stated, “The legalization and commercialization of recreational marijuana is a new frontier for Massachusetts. The September 12^th forum will provide the opportunity for everyone in Milford to learn more about what allowing pot shops here could mean to our kids’ health, public safety, and the integrity of our family community from our knowledgeable line-up of speakers who will present the facts about this critical issue.”

The forum will include presentations by several speakers, all of whom will also sit on a panel to answer questions from the audience as time permits. State Representative Brian Murray will provide an overview of the Massachusetts marijuana law. Senator Viriato M. deMacedo (Plymouth and Barnstable), who was a member of the Massachusetts Special Senate Committee on Marijuana, will identify lessons learned from Colorado in the three years since recreational marijuana was legalized and commercialized there. Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins (Medical Director, Emergency Services, Milford Regional Medical Center) will speak about public health issues. Members of Milford’s Board of Selectmen and School Committee, as well as other community leaders, will also share their perspectives on this critical issue.

Regarding the panel discussion to be held following the speakers’ presentations, Niro stated, “We intend to allow as many Milford residents as possible to ask questions of our panel members and to be given honest answers. Our goal is to have everyone who attends go home feeling like they have the answers they need to make the right decision at the ballot box on September 19th.”

Interested citizens can learn more on the Milford CARES web page and Milford CARES Facebook page.

Help us spread the word! Download and print our event flyer.

Mission Is to Advocate that Milford Voters Opt Out of Retail Marijuana Sales on September Ballot Question to Ensure a Safe and Healthy Future for Our Kids and Community 

Citizens for Milford, along with community leaders and other Milford residents, has organized Milford CARES (Milford Community Against Recreational Marijuana Retail Establishments), a Ballot Question Committee whose sole mission is to maintain the health, safety, and integrity of the community by informing Milford residents about the consequences imposed by retail sales of recreational marijuana and by advocating that voters elect to prohibit pot shops when they vote on Milford’s Marijuana Ballot Question this September.

Milford CARES Chairperson Donna Niro says, “We certainly respect each person’s right to consume medical or recreational marijuana as allowed by state law. Milford CARES wants to ensure that Milford voters are aware of the potential negative impacts our family community could face if we allow retail pot shops to open here. One particular concern is increased access to edible marijuana products containing high levels of THC, such as cookies and gummy bears, that appeal to kids and are not easily distinguished from their non‑marijuana counterparts.”

Local realtor Joshua Lioce shares concerns regarding Milford’s reputation, “Having retail marijuana shops will work against the image of our town, which will have more of a negative impact not only on real estate values but the image of our community and even our school system.”

Regarding the potential impact on schools, Milford’s School Committee Chairman Joe Morais says, “Edibles are easy to share and conceal, and monitoring products of this nature in schools will be an additional and challenging responsibility for our teachers and administrators.”

Milford’s Special Town Election will be held Tuesday, September 19. The ballot will include only one question, which asks voters if they want to prohibit recreational marijuana retail establishments in Milford. A “yes” vote would prohibit such businesses, but would have no impact on medical marijuana treatment centers or other types of recreational marijuana establishments (such as cultivators, testing facilities, and product manufacturers).

Milford CARES encourages Milford voters to review the content on its web page, which includes the sample ballot, a map of the allowed marijuana zones in Milford, a list of actions being taken in surrounding communities, and relevant links and statistics regarding the community impacts of recreational marijuana on the health of our youth, public safety, and the integrity of the community.

The mission of Milford CARES is supported by all members of the Board of Selectmen; Amy Leone of Community Impact and Milford’s Regional Substance Abuse Program; Milford Public Schools Director of Nursing Judy Dagnese and Wellness Coordinator Lisa White; members of the Milford School Committee; members of the Milford Board of Health; and State Senator Ryan Fattman.

Any Milford resident who is interested in volunteering is welcome to send an email to MilfordMACARES@gmail.com.

Milford CARES will be hosting a public forum the week before the Special Town Election. Details will be announced at a later date.