Veterans Day Ceremony Planned for Friday, November 10

Citizens for Milford invites all area veterans and residents to attend the Second Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, to be held Friday, November 10 in Draper Memorial Park. The ceremony will begin immediately following the conclusion of the Veterans Day Parade, at approximately 11:00 a.m.

For the first time, the Veterans Day Ceremony will feature the presentation of the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty, an honor awarded in the name of the Governor of Massachusetts as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth to any Massachusetts serviceman or woman killed in action or who died as a result of wounds received in action. At this year’s ceremony, the Medal of Liberty will be awarded to the surviving family members of eight Milfordians who were killed in action. These heroic members of our community fought in World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq. Dozens more Milford residents qualify for the Medal of Liberty and will be awarded the medal in future ceremonies. More than 10,000 Massachusetts service members have been killed in action, but fewer than 150 medals have been awarded to their families since the Medal of Liberty program was established in 2010.

The Veterans Day Ceremony will also include a presentation of the solemn Missing Man Table remembrance ritual, which honors military members missing in action. Music will be performed by the Milford High School Marching Band and a Milford High School quartet.

Chairperson Peter Scandone says, “I am indebted to the extensive and passionate work conducted by the Medal of Liberty subcommittee (Vincent Cifizzari, JoAnn De Maria Morgan, and Matthew Veneziano) to research and reach out to the families of this year’s first group of medal recipients. With the support of Milford’s Veteran Agent John Pilla, we are thrilled to be extending this special recognition to the families of Milfordians who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country.”

Draper Memorial Park occupies a triangle of land in the downtown Milford area, located at the intersection of Congress Street and Main Street. If the parade is cancelled due to rain, the Veterans Day Ceremony will be held in the Italian-American Veterans Club, located at 4 Hayward Field, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Citizens for Milford extends its 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.

About Citizens for Milford

Citizens for Milford is a volunteer, nonpartisan, grassroots organization, which includes a diverse group of citizens who care about our community. Participation in our projects and events is open to everyone in Milford. More information is available on the group’s website CitizensforMilford.com.