Over 180 Flags To Fill Milford's Draper Memorial Park

MILFORD, MA — Milford's Draper Memorial Park will once again be a sea of red, white and blue as over 180 American flags are set to be planted there on Wednesday. The annual "Field of Flags" is a tradition started by Citizens for Milford and the Milford Corps of the Salvation Army to pay homage to veterans and celebrate holidays focused on the armed forces. This month's display will be in honor of Labor Day and flags will stand in the park from Aug. 28 until Sept. 12.

Each flag is sponsored by an individual, family, group, or business for a $60 donation. This year marked a milestone for the project, with double the number of flags compared to the first year of the project in 2016. The project began small with just 78 flag sponsorships four years ago.

Flag sponsors Stephanie Fino and Stephen Laczenski said, “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.”

Sponsors can personalize each flag by providing brief information about the person who they are recognizing as well as a photo. Citizens for Milford prints the information on cards and laminates the cards and photos so they can be attached to each flag pole. The laminated cards and photos are typically attached the day after the flags are installed in the ground.

The flags are arranged in Draper Park in alphabetical order, with last names starting with A located in the park entrance off Park Street. Flags that have been sponsored in honor of all
veterans are located at the other end of the park behind the WWI monument.

Draper Memorial Park is located at the intersection of Congress Street and Main Street and 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.

While Citizens for Milford and the Salvation Army organize all the work involved in managing the Field of Flags, the installation and take-down of the flags is a community event open to the public as well as sponsors.

“Volunteering for Field of Flags is a humbling and powerful experience. It is a visual reminder
of the veterans who have served our country, and the pride we feel, which is reflected in the
beautiful display of flags. When I am done helping, I always leave with a grateful heart!” said
Cheryl Miller, a member of the Milford Junior Woman’s Club and a volunteer at the event.

The majority of funds donated by flag sponsors are used to support the work of the Salvation
Army in Milford, specifically for food assistance and after-school activities for families in
need.