The Citizens for Milford held a special ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, to honor local veterans. 

The ceremony, originally planned for Draper Memorial Park, was moved to the Italian American Veterans Hall due to the bitter cold. 

Participating in the ceremony were local veterans, clergy, Scouts, and others.

MHS student Camilla Costa sang the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and Girl Scouts Kitana Matteson (Troop 64892) and Vera Iacovelli (Troop 65354) led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commander Eric P. Ruscitti and Jr. Vice Commander Tim McDonough, both representing the Italian American War Veterans Milford Post #40, presented the Colors. 

U.S. Army veteran Dennis “Jack” Candini, who served in the Vietnam War in communications and intelligence roles and was named Grand Marshal of this year’s Veterans Day parade, led the remarks. 

Also speaking in the ceremony were U.S. Army veteran Adam Beard, who served as a combat cavalryman in the Global War Against Terrorism in Iraq; and Deborah and Michael Heaney, the daughter and son-in-law of U.S. Army veteran Lawrence J. Heron, who served in World War II and was severely wounded days after landing on Omaha Beach. 

After the ceremony, members of the Waters Corporation Veterans Employee Resource Group presented a wreath honoring veterans at the World War I monument 

The Veterans Day Parade is organized by the Milford Department of Veterans Services. 

Peter Scandone, who is chairman of the Veterans Day Ceremony committee, served as master of ceremonies. 

A recording of the entire ceremony can be found on MyMilfordTV at https://bit.ly/MilfordVeteransDayCeremony2025. 

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. Learn more at CitizensforMilford.com.

Speaker Biographies

Adam Beard is Vice President of Global Service at Waters Corporation in Milford, where he has worked since 2004. Prior to his career at Waters, Beard served eight years as an officer in the United States Army Air Cavalry, including service with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 3rd Infantry Division. In 2003, he led troops into Iraq as part of the first unit into the country during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Beard is a decorated combat veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. He also served as Commander of an Air Cavalry Troop and was Distinguished Honor Graduate from his U.S. Army Aviation Flight School class. Beard helped found and lead Waters Corporation's Veterans Employee Resource Group and is a resident of Holliston.

Dennis “Jack” Candini served as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Milford Veterans Day Parade. Candini is a retired Milford High School teacher and lifelong resident of Milford. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December of 1965, and following duty assignments in the United States, was promoted to sergeant, and transferred to Vietnam in September 1967. He served with the USA Special Security Group as Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, then spent three months at Military Assistance Command headquarters in Saigon as a Communications Center Supervisor. Candini was then sent to the 4th Infantry Division at Pleiku, where he was the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of his unit, whose mission was the dissemination of intelligence to the 4th Infantry Division units throughout the II Corps in the central highlands. Upon completion of his tour in October 1968, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. He returned home and completed his education at Suffolk University where he earned a BS in Business Administration in 1971 and a master’s degree in business administration in 1976. Candini taught at Milford High School until he retired in 2004.

Deborah and Michael Heaney are the daughter and son-in-law of Lawrence J. Heron (1920-1995), a World War II U.S. Army veteran. On June 6, 1944, Heron landed on Omaha Beach. Days later, near Cherbourg, he was in charge of an ammunition detail when a white phosphorus shell exploded in his hands, resulting in cruelly severe burns to his face and body. This explosion also blinded him. The Lawrence J. Heron Post #6 Disabled American Veterans chapter was named in his honor at the dedication ceremony in 1945, the only such DAV chapter to have been named for a living veteran. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart, European African Middle Eastern Ribbon with one battle star, Distinguished Unit Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Source: Citizens of Milford