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All residents invited to attend this CHERISHED holiday event in Draper Memorial Park!

Ceremony Will Be Held in Draper Memorial Park at Conclusion of Parade

The members of Citizens for Milford invite all area veterans and residents to attend a special ceremony on Veterans Day, 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.

Participating in the ceremony will be local veterans, clergy, and the Milford High School Marching Band. Members of the Italian American War Veterans Milford Post #40 will present the Colors. The Grand Marshall of this year’s Veterans Day Parade, Robert Pavia (U.S. Army veteran), will be the ceremony’s first speaker. U.S. Marine Corps veteran Michael Aghajanian and Bob Savin, who is Lead Coordinator for Irreverent Warriors of Massachusetts, will also make remarks. Participating clergy will include Father Dan Collier of Trinity Episcopal Church and Reverend Peter Joyce, Pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Church. A member of the Waters Corporation Veterans Employee Resource Group will present a wreath honoring veterans at the World War I monument. Milford Fire Lieutenant Scott Keefe will perform “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes during the wreath presentation. Peter Scandone, who is chairman of the Veterans Day Ceremony Committee, will serve as master of ceremonies.

The Milford’s Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony offer everyone in the community an opportunity to demonstrate our support and gratitude for all the Milford men and women who have valiantly served our country. We encourage everyone to join us on Main Street for the parade and at Draper Park for the concluding ceremony to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans. – Peter Scandone

The Field of Flags, a tribute to the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active military personnel, will be installed in Draper Memorial Park prior to Veterans Day and remain flying until the Monday after 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.

A limited number of chairs will be available for attendees at Draper Park.

If the parade is cancelled due to rain, the ceremony will be held at the Italian American War Veterans of the U.S. Post #40 Hall (4 Hayward Field) beginning at 10:00 a.m. If the weather is poor but the parade still marches, the ceremony will be held at the Italian American War Veterans of the U.S. Post #40 Hall beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m. Please check the Citizens for Milford Facebook page (Facebook.com/CitizensforMilford) if the weather looks questionable.

The Veterans Day Parade is organized by the Milford Department of Veterans Services. Please address questions regarding the parade to this office in Town Hall at 508.634.2311. Questions regarding the Veterans Day Ceremony can be emailed to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

Speaker Biographies

Retired Milford Police Detective Robert Pavia is a disabled U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Robert served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a police officer with both the Transit Police in Boston and the Milford Police Department for a combined 22 years. He retired in 2022 after sustaining a spinal injury while performing his official duties. He is the recipient of both the Trooper George L. Hanna Medal of Valor and the Boston Police Medal of Honor. Robert currently serves as the Senior Vice Commander of the Italian American War Veterans Post #40.

Bob Savin is the Local Coordinator for Irreverent Warriors in Milford and Worcester. He has been a volunteer with the organization since 2017 and a resident of Milford for 19 years. Bob is passionate about fostering camaraderie among veterans and supporting their mental health through community events.

Michael Aghajanian served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from 1997 to 2005, following in the footsteps of his late father, also a Marine. Activated after 9/11 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, he spent about 18 months on active duty, during which he met his wife. In 2004, he worked for 13 months with the Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Fallujah, Iraq before leaving the Marines as a Sergeant in 2005. A third-generation Milford resident, Michael continues to serve his community as an elected School Committee member, Town Meeting member, and member of the High School Building Committee.

All Area Residents Invited to Our Final Events of the Year!
Citizens for Milford is hosting three more events in 2024.

Field of Flags
We look forward to installing the final display of the Field of Flags in Draper Memorial Park to commemorate Veterans Day. All are invited to help us install the flags on Wednesday, November 6 and to take them down for the winter’s rest on Monday, November 18. We will meet in Draper Park at 9:30 a.m. both dates. 

Veterans Day Ceremony
Citizens for Milford will once again be organizing the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday, November 11 to take place in Draper Memorial Park at approximately 11:00 a.m. 

Christmas Tree Lighting
The annual Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on Friday, November 29 at 5:30 p.m. in Draper Memorial Park. Yes, this is early! But we plan this for the Friday before the Santa Parade to ensure the tree is lit for everyone the day of the parade. And the Santa Parade is Sunday, December 1. 

Don’t Miss Out! Send Your Sponsorship Form NOW!
Citizens for Milford and the Milford Corps of the Salvation Army are excited to announce that the Field of Flags will return to Draper Memorial Park this May to commemorate Memorial Day. The flags are installed on three patriotic holidays each year (Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day) to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active military personnel.

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 $40.00 donation. Previous sponsors are encouraged to renew their flag sponsorship for another year and will receive an enrollment form either by email or U.S. mail.

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 dedication. Sponsors can personalize each flag by providing a photo if desired.

To sponsor a flag for the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags project, complete this form and mail it to the address provided with a $40 check made out to the SALVATION ARMY before May 18. Requests for a sponsorship form can be submitted by email to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

DON’T MISS OUT! A total of 215 flags can be installed.

Milford pride was on full display this past week as the community enthusiastically came together to beautify Milford in the ninth annual clean-up event!

Citizens for Milford and the Friends of the Milford Upper Charles Trail extend their sincerest gratitude to the dozens of individuals, families, groups, businesses, and government entities that worked together to make the 2024 Milford Beautification Day a tremendous success. Over 200 volunteers helped to make a clean sweep of the Milford Upper Charles Trail and Milford’s parks, streets, and parking lots in this year’s effort to pick up trash on multiple days the week of April 21. The event culminated with a community-wide pick up on Saturday, April 27.

Volunteers picked up a variety of garbage, a lot of which we see every year, such as empty drink containers, candy wrappers, nip bottles, and tires. Volunteers in three different pick-up trucks, as well as Milford Highway Department employees in a town dump truck, picked up the bags and garbage that were collected and made numerous trips to the transfer station, dropping off not only bags of trash, but also construction debris, full-sized basketball hoop, 50” TV, broken grocery cart, frame of a reclining chair, large signs, and a rusted firepit.

In advance of Beautification Day, volunteers from Milford Federal Bank worked to pick up the downtown area, volunteers from Milford’s Doubletree by Hilton Hotel tackled Beaver Street, members of the Senior Center’s Chi Walking Group cleaned up the section of the Upper Charles River Trail near the Senior Center, and members of the Nueva Jerusalem Church picked up downtown parking lots on Earth Day. In addition, a crew from the Massachusetts Department of Correction in Norfolk worked to pick up along busier roads in town, including East Main Street.

Members of the Greenleaf Garden Club filled all the planters around town with blooming daffodils the week ahead of Beautification Day then worked to clean out community gardens the day of the event.

Volunteers from many different groups also assisted in the clean-up efforts on April 27, including 18 young people from the Milford Youth Center and 50 students from the Milford High School National Honor Society. Many scouts also participated, including young people and leaders from Daisy Troop 65354; Brownie Troop 65217; Girl Scout Troops 30570, 65017, 30016; and Boy Scout Troop 4.

Several town and state officials also contributed their time to clean up Milford, including Town Administrator Richard Villani, Select Board members Paul Mazzuchelli and Michael Walsh, Town Moderator Michelangelo Bon Tempo, and State Representative Brian W. Murray.

Organizers were pleased to welcome the participation of volunteers from two local businesses—Doubletree Hotel and Planet Aid—working in the clean-up efforts for the first time.

After completing their clean-up routes on Saturday, volunteers were treated to hamburgers and hot dogs courtesy of the Milford Lions Club and—new this year!—New City Microcreamery ice cream served by Milford’s The Rail Trail Flatbread Company.

Trash bags, gloves, safety vests, and water were provided to all clean-up volunteers courtesy of Friends of the Milford Upper Charles Trail, Milford Highway Department, and Citizens for Milford.

Citizens for Milford is thrilled to see participation in Milford’s Beautification Day continue to grow. The enthusiastic support and hard work contributed by so many different people and organizations ensured the success of this year’s event. We deeply appreciate everyone’s efforts and would like to remind all residents and businesses to be careful with your trash and to consider taking the time to pick it up when you see it. THANK YOU ALL!

New Flag Sponsorships and Renewals Now Being Accepted. Send Your Sponsorship or Renewal Form BEFORE May 18

Citizens for Milford and the Milford Corps of the Salvation Army are excited to announce that the Field of Flags will return to Draper Memorial Park this May to commemorate Memorial Day. The flags are installed on three patriotic holidays each year (Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day) to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active military personnel.

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 $40.00 donation. Previous sponsors are encouraged to renew their flag sponsorship for another year and will receive an enrollment form either by email or U.S. mail.

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 dedication. Sponsors can personalize each flag by providing a photo if desired.

To sponsor a flag for the Draper Memorial Park Field of Flags project, complete this form and mail it to the address provided with a $40 check made out to the Salvation Army before May 18. Requests for a sponsorship form can be submitted by email to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

DON’T MISS OUT! A total of 215 flags can be installed, so we urge you to send your form and check as soon as possible.

All Milford Residents and Groups Invited to Volunteer to Help Clean Our Community!

Citizens for Milford is organizing the Ninth Annual Milford Beautification Day, Milford’s annual clean-up event, which enables area residents, organizations, and businesses to work together to beautify our community by picking up trash around town. Milford Beautification Day will be held Saturday, April 27th (rain or shine) from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All interested citizens are invited to meet with organizers anytime between those hours in the municipal parking lot across from Sacred Heart Church (5 East Main Street) to get supplies, instructions, and assignments.

Families, community groups, churches, local businesses, and teenagers who need to perform service hours are all invited to participate. Younger children are encouraged to attend as long as they are accompanied by a supervising adult. 

 I hope that many people, young and old, join us to clean up the streets of Milford on April 27. It is a great way to meet others from the community who take pride in our town. —Beautification Day Chairperson Nancy Wojick

All Beautification Day volunteers are invited to a free lunch courtesy of the Milford Lions Club, whose members will be cooking hamburgers and hot dogs on site as a thank you to everyone’s efforts to beautify our community.

To help ensure the organizers can plan the clean-up routes for volunteers, the group is asking residents to report streets and neighborhoods that are of particular concern. Residents can submit their recommendations by emailing them to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com or by messaging them to the Citizens for Milford Facebook page (@CitizensforMilford) before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 25.

Community involvement with Beautification Day continues to grow. Citizens for Milford is sincerely grateful to the Milford Highway Department, Friends of the Milford Upper Charles Trail, Milford Lions Club, and volunteers from Milford Federal Bank who are continuing their partnership with us. In addition, Citizens for Milford is pleased to welcome volunteers from Planet Aid and the Milford Doubletree Hotel, who will be joining our clean-up efforts this year. Combined with the work of all residents who continue to volunteer on Beautification Day, this event is a true demonstration of community pride.

Questions regarding any of the Beautification Day efforts may be submitted by email to CitizensforMilford@gmail.com.

Seated at left table: Moderators Geri Eddins and Tom Harmon. Seated at right table: BOARD OF HEALTH CANDIDATES Loriann Braza and Diana Haynes.

Citizens for Milford hosted the eleventh Candidate Forum on April 13 at Milford Town Hall. The forum featured the candidates vying for positions on the Milford Board of Health and the Milford School Committee. THANK YOU to those in attendance who posed questions, as well as those who submitted questions in advance and texted, emailed and messaged via Facebook during the forum. We wish we had enough time to pose all of your outstanding questions!

We would especially like to thank each of the candidates for their willingness to serve the town of Milford by running for office and for spending time answering questions on the minds of voters. THANK YOU to MILFORD BOARD OF HEALTH CANDIDATES: Loriann Braza and Diana Haynes and MILFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE CANDIDATES: Gregory Allegrezza, Meghan Hornberger, Christopher Wilson, and Matthew Zachilli.

We also extend A HUGE THANK YOU to our partners at Milford TV for their live coverage of the event. WATCH THE FORUM VIDEO HERE.

Candidates for Milford School Committee (L to R): Gregory Allegrezza, Matthew Zachilli, Christopher Wilson, and Meghan Hornberger.

VOTING REMINDERS

• The DEADLINE to register to vote for MILFORD’S LOCAL ELECTION is March 23rd by 5:00pm.
• The DEADLINE to apply for a Vote by Mail application for this election is March 26th by 5:00pm. (allow mailing time)
• ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, APRIL 2nd!! BE SURE TO VOTE!

*Photos By Kim Smith and Steve Eddins