Category Archives: Uncategorized

Construction to be Completed by April 30 Weather Permitting

The fundraising campaign for the revitalization of Draper Memorial Park, launched by the Town of Milford and MassDevelopment and spearheaded by the War Memorial Revitalization Committee, generated nearly $90,000 this past fall. Donations from 170 patrons helped the fundraising efforts exceed its initial goal of $42,500 by nearly $5,000. The first $42,500 of the $47,230 raised was matched dollar for dollar by MassDevelopment.

Town Meeting awarded an additional $45,000 in funds to this vital community project on January 6, ensuring that all plans defined within the original scope of the project two years ago will be completed.

Over the winter residents can expect to see progress being made on the revitalization of the park. Attractive new metal benches will be installed, followed by extensive repairs to the brick work in all the seating areas and walkways. The brick work is being completed by Mountain View Inc. of Chicopee, Massachusetts and is planned to be finished before April 30 if the weather cooperates. Additional work to be completed includes repairs to the General Draper statue, as well as new lighting, landscaping, and irrigation.

We could not have raised these substantial funds without the generosity of many Milford residents, businesses, and organizations. We extend our sincerest gratitude to all our donors, as well as to MassDevelopment for providing the matching funds to help us realize our dream of a fully renovated and revitalized Draper Memorial Park.
– Chairman Peter Scandone

Many of the donations were made by individuals and families in amounts ranging from $10 to $1,000. Local civic groups and businesses also contributed. Civic organizations that donated are American Legion Sgt. John W. Powers Post 59, American Legion Auxiliary Sgt. John W. Powers Unit 59, Celebrate Milford, Citizens for Milford (in memory of Steven J. Trettel), Lawrence J. Heron Chapter 6 of Disabled American Veterans, Greenleaf Garden Club, Hopedale Foundation, Milford Junior Woman’s Club, and Milford Lions Club (in memory of David Ferreira). Business donors include Afonso Real Estate, Bella Caprice Salon, Buma Sargeant Funeral Home Inc, Ciccone Plumbing, Consigli Construction, Dewey Pest and Wildlife, Edwards Memorial Funeral Home, Emerald Irrigation, Milford Federal Bank, Rockland Trust, and Watson Colonial Funeral Home.

The War Memorial Revitalization Committee is planning a rededication ceremony once the work has been completed. Details will be announced at a later date.

About Draper Memorial Park
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, as well as those who gave their lives, during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The park also includes a listing of Milford veterans who served in the Gulf War.

Standing tall in the park is the equestrian statue of General William Franklin Draper. Sculptor Daniel Chester French created the statue in 1912 in collaboration with architect Henry Bacon, who designed the granite pedestal on which the statue stands, as well as the park landscape. French and Bacon partnered again on the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Other monuments in Draper Memorial Park include the Powers boulder, which features a memorial plaque for Sergeant John W. Powers (a Milford veteran killed in World War I), and the historic Milford milestone, dated 1773, which marked the distance from Milford to Boston.

The care and management of Draper Memorial Park falls under the authority of the Milford Parks Commission and Milford Veterans Services.

About the War Memorial Revitalization Committee
The War Memorial Revitalization Committee (WMRC) is an Ad Hoc committee appointed by the Select Board. Its two-fold mission is to assist the Parks Department in the repair and revitalization of Draper Memorial Park and Calzone Memorial Park and to establish an ongoing maintenance plan that ensures the continued longevity of the parks and their structures for generations to come.

About MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth. Through these collaborations we help create jobs, increase the number of housing units, revitalize urban environments, and address factors limiting economic growth including transportation, energy, and infrastructure deficiencies.

Dear Friends:

As we begin a new year, we would like to reflect on 2020 and let you know about our plans for 2021. A look back must begin with a fond remembrance of our founding leader, Steve Trettel, who passed in August. His legacy continues to shine brightly, and we miss him dearly.

Looking Back at 2020….

The public health crisis forced us to put aside several of our premier events last year (Beautification Day, Field of Flags, Veterans Day Ceremony, and Christmas Tree Lighting), yet we were so pleased to work together on the following:

• Candidates Forums
  We collaborated with Milford TV and the 2020 candidates for town office to host a series of virtual forums to inform Milford voters in advance of the April town election. Hosting the forums in this new format posed a substantial learning curve for all of us, but the candidates eagerly accepted the challenge and the viewing statistics proved that everyone’s efforts were well worth it. Thousands of residents tuned in to “meet the candidates” via Milford TV and its on-demand service, with the forum featuring the two candidates vying for the Board of Selectmen’s seat garnering over 4,000 views.
• Milford TV Special Honoring Our Healthcare Heroes
  We also enjoyed directing our time and energy to work with the Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation and Milford TV to create a tribute celebrating the men and women who continue to work so hard to protect and keep us safe and healthy. This special TV event, Confronting the Challenges of COVID-19 at Milford Regional Medical Center: Honoring Our Healthcare Heroes, was hosted by State Representative Brian W. Murray (10^th Worcester District) and Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (10^th Norfolk District) and featured a diverse cast of over twenty guests. Watch it here anytime.
• Revitalization of Draper Memorial Park
  Lastly, we were proud to help provide outreach regarding the fundraising efforts for the revitalization of Draper Memorial Park through our website, Facebook page, and email list. MANY of YOU contributed, and we are grateful for every single dollar! The community response was overwhelming, and the War Memorial Revitalization Committee exceeded its goal.

Looking Ahead!

We would like to introduce our new officers and share our plans for the upcoming year.

The members of Citizens for Milford have voted in new officers for 2021:

• Geri Eddins, Chair
• Kim Trettel Smith, Vice Chair
• Nancy Wojick, Treasurer and Media Liaison
• Amie Sanborn, Secretary

Town Election
Milford Town Election will be held April 6. Nomination papers are available from the Town Clerk beginning Monday, January 4. Citizens for Milford looks forward to continuing our annual Candidates Forum in March, and we anticipate holding a series of virtual forums in conjunction with Milford TV again. Stay tuned!

Beautification Day
Pandemic permitting, we plan to hold this event Saturday April 24.

Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags
As we understand it, the park renovations will be completed by late spring. We hope that the public health situation will have abated enough to enable us to safely begin installing the flags on schedule this year. As always, the first installation will be before Memorial Day. The flag installations will continue to honor Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. As a part of the revitalization efforts, new metal sleeves are being installed in the ground, which will make the installation and removal process much easier. We are always eager for new volunteers to join us in working with the flags. Be sure to reach out if you would like to be notified of our work schedule for the year.

Other dates to put on your calendar include the Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11 and the Sixth Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 3.

We are looking forward to another year of events that bring us together and help improve our community. We appreciate Milford’s volunteer spirit and would welcome having your help with the flags and our other events. If you are interested, please email us at CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

We wish you, your family, and all our friends and neighbors a safe and healthy new year!

Geri, Kim, Nancy, and Amie

Overwhelming Community Support for the Revitalization of Draper Memorial Park Ensures Fundraising Goal Exceeded.
Donation Opportunity Extended to Veterans Day, November 11.

The initial phase of fundraising for the revitalization of Draper Memorial Park launched by the Town of Milford and MassDevelopment ended at midnight on October 15. The Milford War Memorial Revitalization Committee, who has spearheaded the fundraising efforts, is thrilled to announce that donations from 158 patrons helped the committee exceed its goal of $42,500 by nearly $5,000. The first $42,500 of the $47,230 raised is being matched dollar for dollar by MassDevelopment, awarding this vital community project a total of almost $90,000.

The success of this fundraising effort demonstrates that the revitalization of Draper Park truly resonates with all members of the community. This critical funding will guarantee we can continue moving forward with the planned repairs and enhancements, which will not only provide a much-needed facelift, but will also provide a safe and enjoyable space for the community to congregate and celebrate community occasions. We also anticipate that this extensive work will contribute to the overall revitalization
of the downtown Milford district.

War Memorial Revitalization Committee Chairman Peter Scandone

Because the community support has been so tremendous, the committee, in collaboration with the Town and MassDevelopment, is extending the opportunity to donate to Veterans Day, November 11. Although funds raised beyond the initial $42,500 goal will not be matched, these additional funds will create a buffer to ensure that all projects planned for the revitalization can be completed. The committee hopes to raise a total of $55,000.

Additional funds raised from the community will help us offset any unexpected increases that have arisen in the two years since this project was first planned, as well as accommodate the increases to the original scope of the project.
We want to make certain that all plans for this town park—repairs to the General Draper statue and brick pathways, and the installation of new lighting, landscaping, irrigation, and seating—are completed.

Parks and Recreation Administrator James Asam

Many of the donations were made by individuals and families in amounts ranging from $10 to $1,000. Local civic groups and businesses also contributed. Among the civic organizations that have donated are Celebrate Milford, the Milford Lions Club (in memory of David Ferreira), Citizens for Milford (in memory of Steven J. Trettel), the Greenleaf Garden Club, the Hopedale Foundation, American Legion Auxiliary Sgt. John W. Powers Unit 59, Sgt. John W. Powers Post 59 of the American Legion, and the Lawrence J. Heron Chapter 6 of Disabled American Veterans. Business donors include Dewey Pest and Wildlife, Consigli Construction, Milford Federal Bank, Ciccone Plumbing, Watson Colonial Funeral Home, Buma Sargeant Funeral Home Inc, Bella Caprice Salon, Edwards Memorial Funeral Home, Emerald Irrigation, Afonso Real Estate, and Rockland Trust. A complete list of all donors is available at Patronicity.com/milford.

Donations can continue to be made online by visiting Patronicity.com/milford until 11:45 p.m. on November 11, 2020. Individuals or businesses who prefer to write a check can do so by writing it to “Town of Milford” and writing “Draper Park Revitalization” in the memo. Checks should be mailed to the Treasurer’s office at Milford Town Hall, 52 Main Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757. Donors can also drop off checks in one of the two drop boxes located outside Town Hall.

All donations made to the Draper Park revitalization project are tax deductible. Donors are encouraged to submit matching gift forms with their employers as applicable.

Donors may choose to have their names listed on the Patronicity website or to remain anonymous.

Large donations will be appropriately recognized at a future date.

About Draper Memorial Park
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, as well as those who gave their lives, during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The park also includes a listing of Milford veterans who served in the Gulf War.

Standing tall in the park is the equestrian statue of General William Franklin Draper. Sculptor Daniel Chester French created the statue in 1912 in collaboration with architect Henry Bacon, who designed the granite pedestal on which the statue stands, as well as the park landscape. French and Bacon partnered again on the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Other monuments in Draper Memorial Park include the Powers boulder, which features a memorial plaque for Sergeant John W. Powers (a Milford veteran killed in World War I), and the historic Milford milestone, dated 1773, which marked the distance from Milford to Boston.

The care and management of Draper Memorial Park falls under the authority of the Milford Parks Commission and Milford Veterans Services.

Veterans Day Ceremony in front of the WW I monument in Draper Memorial Park, November 2019.

About the War Memorial Revitalization Committee
The War Memorial Revitalization Committee (WMRC) is an Ad Hoc committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Its two-fold mission is to assist the Parks Department in the repair and revitalization of Draper Memorial Park and Calzone Memorial Park and to establish an ongoing maintenance plan that ensures the continued longevity of the parks and their structures for generations to come.

About MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth. Through these collaborations we help create jobs, increase the number of housing units, revitalize urban environments, and address factors limiting economic growth including transportation, energy, and infrastructure deficiencies.

Milford Residents and Friends Invited to Contribute to Crowdfunding Campaign to Fund Repairs and Improvements to Draper Memorial Park. Donate Before 11:45 p.m. on October 15 to DOUBLE Your Donation with Matching Funds from MassDevelopment.

The Milford War Memorial Revitalization Committee (WMRC), an Ad Hoc committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen to assist the Parks Department in the repair and revitalization of Milford’s war memorial parks, is asking area citizens, organizations, and businesses to donate to the community rejuvenation of Draper Memorial Park. ALL donation amounts—no matter how small or large—will be matched dollar for dollar by MassDevelopment up to $42,500.

Donations made through this initiative will be used to transform Draper Park through repairs to the General Draper statue and brick pathways, as well as the installation of new lighting, landscaping, irrigation, seating, and historical signage. The landscaping work has already begun under the direction of Parks and Recreation Administrator James Asam. Additional construction is planned for completion before the end of the year.

WMRC Chairman Peter Scandone states, “We decided that Draper Park needed a total renovation—from the top of the trees right down below the ground to the irrigation system. We kindly ask for everyone in Milford to consider making a donation to help us restore and maintain Draper Park as a place of respect and pride for all future generations.”

Donations can be made easily online by visiting Patronicity.com/milford. Individuals or businesses who prefer to write a check can do so by writing it to “Town of Milford” and writing “Draper Park Revitalization” in the memo. Checks should be mailed to the Treasurer’s office at Milford Town Hall, 52 Main Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757.All donations made to the Draper Park revitalization project are tax deductible. Donors are encouraged to submit matching gift forms with their employers as applicable.

https://vimeo.com/427725640

Donors may choose to have their names listed on the Patronicity website or to remain anonymous. The deadline to submit your donation so that it is eligible for matching funds is 11:45 p.m. on October 15, 2020.

Large donations will be appropriately recognized at a future date.

GOT Questions?! We Have Answers

I want to donate to help revitalize Draper Park. Can I donate online?
Yes, click here to visit the Patronicity crowdsourcing site and click the SUPPORT button to donate by credit or debit card. This is a secure service.

Can I write a check instead of donating online?
Yes, please make checks payable to “Town of Milford” and be sure to write “Draper Park Revitalization” in the memo line of the check. Mail the check to the Treasurer’s office at Milford Town Hall, 52 Main Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757. You could also put your check in an envelope addressed to the Treasurer and deposit in the drop box outside Town Hall.

Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes, the Town of Milford is a tax-exempt government organization, Tax ID 046-001-224.

Am I able to get my donation matched by my employer?
Yes, if your employer offers a matching gift program, you may submit a matching gift form to your employer to have your donation matched. Both your personal donation and your employer’s donation are eligible to be matched by MassDevelopment.

When I donate online, I am asked to pay a processing fee.
What’s that?
Each donation is subject to a processing fee that varies according to the amount of the donation. You can select the option to not pay the fee. Important: If you choose to pay the fee, the full amount of your donation and your fee is tax deductible.

Can my donation be anonymous?
Yes, if you are donating online, you can select to either have your name listed on the website or not. If you choose to send a check, please include a note if you prefer for your donation to be anonymous.

When is the deadline to make a donation?
If you want the money you donate to be matched, please donate before 11:45 p.m. on October 15, 2020.

Is there a minimum donation amount?
No. We are eager to involve as many members of the community as possible in this important project. We understand times are tough. Please donate an amount that you are comfortable with. Thank you!

About Draper Memorial Park
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, as well as those who gave their lives, during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The park also includes a listing of Milford veterans who served in the Gulf War.

Standing tall in the park is the equestrian statue of General William Franklin Draper. Sculptor Daniel Chester French created the statue in 1912 in collaboration with architect Henry Bacon, who designed the granite pedestal on which the statue stands, as well as the park landscape. French and Bacon partnered again on the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Other monuments in Draper Memorial Park include the Powers boulder, which features a memorial plaque for Sergeant John W. Powers (a Milford veteran killed in World War I), and the historic Milford milestone, dated 1773, which marked the distance from Milford to Boston.

The care and management of Draper Memorial Park falls under the authority of the Milford Parks Commission and Milford Veterans Services.

About the War Memorial Revitalization Committee
The War Memorial Revitalization Committee (WMRC) is an Ad Hoc committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Its two-fold mission is to assist the Parks Department in the repair and revitalization of Draper Memorial Park and Calzone Memorial Park and to establish an ongoing maintenance plan that ensures the continued longevity of the parks and their structures for generations to come.

About MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth. Through these collaborations we help create jobs, increase the number of housing units, revitalize urban environments, and address factors limiting economic growth including transportation, energy, and infrastructure deficiencies.

THANK YOU Healthcare Heroes, EVERYONE on the Front Lines of COVID-19, and All Our Partners in CREATING This Special Event

Confronting the Challenges of COVID-19 at Milford Regional Medical Center: Honoring Our Healthcare Heroes

Special Milford TV Event Will Air TUESDAY, JUNE 9 at 6:00 p.m. Area Residents Can Also Listen to Simulcast on MyFM 101.3.

Read ALL about this exciting tribute to our community healthcare heroes here. 

Citizens for Milford extends its sincerest gratitude to all of the candidates in Milford’s upcoming Town Election for participating in our Candidate Forum series. We also thank Milford voters for viewing and sending in questions. Lastly, we send a HUGE shout out to the pros at Milford TV for their hard work in collaborating with us to help Milford voters get to know the candidates. THANK YOU ALL!

WATCH the Forum Videos
Milford TV has published all four of the forum videos here. We encourage all of Milford’s voters to watch each of the videos to meet the candidates and hear what they have to say about their ideas for our community.

Did We Miss Your Questions?
Dozens of Milford voters sent in questions for us to pose to all of the candidates, and we apologize that we were not able to include every single question. If we missed yours, we invite you to contact each of the candidates directly. You can find contact information on our 2020 Milford Candidates page.

Vote Early by MAIL NOW!
Get your Early Voting Application NOW by downloading and printing it. You can also call the Town Clerk’s office at (508) 634-2307 to ask for an application to be mailed to you.

Because Town Hall is closed to the public, you can return your early voting application by one of four ways:

• Mail it to Town Hall, 52 Main Street, Milford, MA 01757
• Fax it to (508) 634-2324
• Email it to aneves@townofmilford.com
• Drop it off at the drop box at Town Hall

A ballot will be mailed to you as soon as the Town Clerk receives your signed application.

The deadline to apply to vote Early by Mail is noon on June 15, but if you need an application and /or Early Voting ballot mailed to you, the Town Clerk asks you to request or complete an application as soon as possible to expedite the mailing process.

While everyone will adhere to social distancing and safety precautions related to COVID-19 on election day (June 16), the Town Clerk strongly encourages all registered voters to take advantage of the opportunity of Early Voting by Mail.

STAY SAFE MILFORD and BE WELL!

Residents Invited to Send Questions in Advance and During Live Broadcasts

Citizens for Milford will be hosting a series of four Candidate Forums—one for each of the contested races—beginning the last week of April. Each of the forums will be conducted using the video conferencing software ZOOM and will be live streamed on Milford TV and its other platforms.

Watch the forums featuring the candidates for Library Board of Trustees, Board of Selectmen, and Highway Surveyor on the public channels: Comcast TV Channel 8 and Verizon TV Channel 38. Watch the forum featuring the candidates for School Committee on the educational channels: Comcast TV Channel 11 and Verizon TV Channel 40.

Citizens for Milford member José Costa will moderate the forums. Each forum will begin with a two-minute opening statement from each of the candidates. A highlight of each forum will be the exchange of challenge questions between the opponents.

Following the challenge questions, the moderator will pose questions that have been submitted from the public. Milford residents are invited to submit questions during each forum by either calling a phone number displayed on the TV screen or posting messages to the Citizens for Milford Facebook page. Also, residents are encouraged to send questions in advance by posting on Facebook or emailing them to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com. The moderator will make every effort to ensure as many voter questions as possible are posed to the candidates.

The forums will take place at 7:00 p.m. as follows: Library Board of Trustees candidates on Tuesday, April 28; Board of Selectmen candidates on Thursday, April 30; School Committee candidates on Tuesday, May 5; and Highway Surveyor candidates on Thursday, May 7.

Citizens for Milford Chairman Steve Trettel states, “Providing information to voters during our Town Election season is an ongoing commitment for Citizens for Milford. With the Town Election postponed to June 16, we are pleased to modify our typical forum format for these challenging times and urge all voters to tune in and participate by sending questions for the candidates.”

The Town Crier newspaper is once again Citizens for Milford’s media partner for the Candidate Forums. “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.

Milford TV’s live-stream platforms include the following: Comcast TV Channel 8; Verizon TV Channel 38; MilfordTV.net; VOD; ROKU; Twitter: @Milford_TV; Facebook: @MilfordTV; and Instagram: milfordtv.

All four forums will be video recorded and broadcast in the days leading up to the election on Tuesday, June 16. In addition, Milford TV will publish the videos on their video-on-demand page on their website MilfordTV.net/vod. Citizens for Milford will also provide links to each video on this website and Facebook page as soon as it is available.

In the meantime, check out all the candidate profiles on the 2020 Milford Candidates page.

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.