Hang High Another Flag in Milford

Hang High Another Flag in Milford

by Robert Mitchell

They don’t call Milford, Mass., “Flag City” for nothing.

For a good part of the year, every corner of this town and neighboring locations in southern Massachusetts is full of U.S. flags waving in the wind through a pair of Salvation Army fundraising programs known as “Field of Flags” and “Fly the Flag.”

“We’re pretty close to raising our stated goal of $25,000,” Major Kevin Polito, the corps officer in Milford, said as the Fourth of July approached.

Field of Flags began just before Memorial Day with the placing of 220 flags — measuring 3 feet by 5 feet and mounted to a 10-foot staff — in Milford’s Draper Memorial Park in conjunction with Citizens for Milford. Polito said the cost to sponsor a flag is $40, and donors can honor a loved one from the military with a photo and their years of service on a card attached to a yellow remembrance ribbon.

Fly the Flag, now in its 12th year, included 130 flags from businesses and almost 200 residential orders in 2025 from the towns of Milford, Hopedale, and Mendon, Mass. The cost is $50 per flag but goes down if you reserve more than one.

“All told, it’s over 500 flags,” Polito said. “It’s a lot of work and behind-the-scenes maintenance, but it’s a great program.”

A deeper meaning

Both programs help raise critical funds for the Milford Salvation Army’s food pantry, social services, and holiday assistance. With inflation and funding cuts, the demand for services such as rental, utility, and food assistance has increased across communities served by The Salvation Army’s Massachusetts Division.

“For many, the flags represent more than patriotism — they represent the courage of veterans, families who’ve lost loved ones, and those who’ve received help from The Salvation Army during times of hardship. Each flag says, ‘We see you, we remember you, and we are grateful for your service,’” Polito said in a release promoting the fundraising effort.

“Flags are more than just fabric; they are symbols of resilience and hope,” Polito said. “They stand for the strength of our community and remind us all that we are in this together, no matter the challenges we face.”

Fly the Flag is more than a fundraiser for The Salvation Army — it is a true labor of love for staff and volunteers like Milford resident Stuart Downes, a longtime program volunteer and the corps sergeant-major in Milford.

No one left behind

“The need for The Salvation Army’s services is at an all-time high with more families turning to us for help than ever before,” Downes said. “But thanks to the generous support of local businesses, residents, and individuals, we are able to stand by those in need. By participating in this program, you’re not just honoring the American spirit — you’re helping families in crisis. Together, we are showing our community that no one is forgotten.”

In addition to delivering and installing the flags at locations throughout town, the corps is responsible for storing and caring for 500 flags when they are not in use. Throughout the year, the flags are installed and taken down several times, before and after Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day/September 11, Veterans Day, and Election Day. 

Polito concedes that Fly the Flag is a lot of work, but he believes it bonds the area’s residents, allows him to meet donors, and most importantly provides much-needed funding for crucial programs.

“It is an amazing example of community spirit,” Polito said of the flag fundraisers. “We’re proud as The Salvation Army to be a part of something like that, especially in today’s day and age where things can be divisive and even hyperpartisan.

“It definitely seems like a way to bring the community together and really foster a good community spirit. That’s something we’ve always appreciated about it.”