Marine Veteran Gets Donations For 47 American Flags To Shine Up Milford Parade Routes

MILFORD, MA—Jason Mack was determined to improve the town's Memorial Day and Veterans Day parade routes. To do that, he wanted to mount a whole lot of nice American flags along these routes.

In fact, the Marine veteran and Milford resident wanted to buy 47 nylon flags with embroidered stars and grommets. They cost $17 each for 47 of them, and $14.95 each for the spinner poles that hold them up and let 'em fly.

Reaching out via GoFundMe, Mack exceeded his $1,600 goal in a month's time, with 40 people donating to the cause.

"I decided to focus on this goal because on my way home for Gold's Gym in Milford last Memorial Day, I drove the parade route and was quite disappointed in the lack of flags," Mack told Patch. "In many other towns there is no mistaking where their parade routes are and I thought to myself, 'Why not Milford?'"

Mack fought in Iraq and says his life has forever changed because of what he saw and did over there. Some of his friends didn't make it home, some are crippled, and others have killed themselves because of the experiences.

After meeting with the town's veteran's services officer, who told Mack he would do the best he could, it was apparent funds were not available from the town to buy the flags and poles.

"Based on his description of things, it sounds like we are lucky we have a Veterans Day and Memorial Day parade at all," said Mack. "In most instances he doesn’t even know who will b emarching in the parade, if there will be a color guard, or if members of the town's police and fire department will be participating. I was hoping to find a way to breathe new life into things and improve the process one step at a time."

Mack said he emailed all of the Board of Selectmen members and the town administrator, and after getting no response, reached out to Chairman William Kingkade to discuss what he was trying to do. Town Administrator Richard Villani alsoemailed him back during that time.

"Boths eemed very interested in what I was trying to do and supportive of my plan," said Mack. "I even offered that if the flags could not work that maybe I could donate the money and use it for a granite memorial bench at either the Doughboy Statue or in Draper Memorial Park and we could dedicate it to all who have given their lives in OEF, OIF, and the War on Terror.

Mack said he was told he would hear back from the board of its meeting on Sept. 18, but hasn't as of yet. Mack added that he watched a video of the meeting from that night and his email and cause were not on the agenda.

"I want this to be a gift to the town and hope that it is a first step in breathing new life into both the Veterans Day and Memorial Day parades," said Mack.

Mack wrote on GoFundMe that he plans to keep the fund open until he buttons the legalities up with the town, and once that is done, he'll post a photo of the donation check and the purchased flags and poles. He has also spoken with Verizon about getting permission to use those poles.

"It is a little disappointing if you look at where the majority of donations have come from for my campaign," Mack added. "It's mostly family, friends, fellow veterans. Very few from actual people in Milford and last I checked, zero from our elected officials. One thing that has been great is the support of the local small business community. Central Street Barbershop, Central Street Tavern, and the Tradesman have all posted campaign signs for me and shared my page via Facebook. My main goal here is to show people that we can all sit back and complain about things in our community but if you want to make a difference and prove things, you need to act. I've never done anything like this before, and look what I've accomplished with nothing more than an idea, willpower, and determination."

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