As the final Milford Hall of Fame celebration, at least for a while, it is right and just to call out the thousands of unsung heroes, the people who contributed to this ancient community every day.

Milford Rotary Celebrates its 100th anniversary February. It was the first service club in Milford, joined by a second Rotary, Devon, Kiwanis, derived from an Indian term for share or trade, The Lions, famous for its Eye Bank, and fraternal organizations like the Shriners with its world famous burn centers, Knights of Columbus, Plymouth club, Elks and numerous veteran’s organizations. Milford’s volunteerism and special interest clubs and organizations run from youth and adult sports in baseball, hockey, basketball, running, bicycling, cooking, gardening to sewing and crocheting. Car, motorcycle, boating, sailing, farming clubs, 4H, Boys and Girl Scouting and Club, the YMCA, Education, literacy and health purpose many organizations and professional and business associations are numerous. Dozens of United Way partners and others that were part of or coordinated with the City of Milford’s Recreation and public services like the many youth programs and senior Center, and Bethel Shelter serve the City.

The Milford Club is Milford’s oldest continuously serving club founded July 1, 1847, second only to a Boston club in the whole United States. Distinctive not for service but for drink and camaraderie, its walls still bear records of local heroic and compassionate acts over its 180+ years. There are Heritage communities for Irish, Poles, Italians, B’Nai Brith, Men and Women and others. Outreach and service groups from our many churches are active in the community. The Oyster Festival committees have brightened Milford summers for 50 years. Red Cross volunteers saved lives though many emergencies. These groups and many more, as well as Individuals who step up to serve and unpaid political officers made Milford great. This, the last plaque in the Hall of Fame, is dedicated to the People of Milford.