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Ernest Ward Holds Penny War To Send Two Local Veterans On Honor Flight
March 9, 2009
The students at Ernest Ward Middle School fought a “Penny War” to raise over $2,200 to send two local veterans on an upcoming Emerald Coast Honor Flight.
The Honor Flights take veterans on a one day trip to Washington, D.C. to see the war memorials that stand in their honor.
“We had a lot of fun doing this,” said Ernest Ward teacher Janna Dickey. “And it was for a really good cause. We were honored to be able to raise money to honor two of our local veterans in this way.”
The 10-day “Penny War” was a competition between the 26 EWMS homerooms to collect the most pennies, but their penny count could be “bombed” with dollars and silver coins. The silver coins essential canceled out the pennies. In other words, a $1 bill dropped in a container with 100 pennies would cancel out the pennies for the class total.
“They had a lot of fun doing this. The collection jars were in the cafeteria, and the teachers would make a really big deal out of bombing the penny jar from another class,” Dickey said. “It really added to the competition.”
Mr. Wark’s homeroom raised the most money at $583.22 and was rewarded with a pizza party. The second highest total was Mrs. Spence’s homeroom with $269.03. The most pennies that counted were collected by Mrs. Dickey’s homeroom. Second was Mr. Gindl’s homeroom.
The next Emerald Coast Honor Flight is April 1. The Ernest Ward Middle sponsored veterans from our local area will be on a future flight to be announced at a later date.
If you are a veteran and would like to take an honor flight to Washington, visit www.emeraldcoasthonorflight.com for an application.
Emerald Coast Honor Flight is a non-profit organization honoring America’s veterans for their sacrifices. The program flies our heroes and their guardians from Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington and Holmes counties to Washington, DC, to reflect at their memorials for a one day free visit. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – WW II survivors along with those other veterans that may be terminally ill.
The trip for the veterans is free; it is all paid for by sponsors and supporters.
The “Penny War” to support the Emerald Coast Honor Flight was a project of the Ernest Ward Middle School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.
Pictured above: Bombs away! Ernest Ward Middle School Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry bombs a class during the school’s Penny Wars to raise money for Emerald Coast Honor Flight. Pictured below: Penny War containers were placed in the cafeteria for 26 homerooms. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
5 Responses to “Ernest Ward Holds Penny War To Send Two Local Veterans On Honor Flight”
On Behalf of the Veterans of VFW post 7016, I would like to thank all of you for your efforts.
I am deeply touched by the dedication, commitment, respect and honor your school shows the Veterans of this Great Nation. It is true that the Veterans of this Nation all gave some, and some gave all. It is also true that schools like E.W.M.S. continually show they will never forget the price this Nations Veterans have paid. I know we (the local Veterans) enjoy the wonderful programs your school puts on each year to Honor us. I am thankful that our community has such an outstanding principal who makes it a priority to teach her students to Recognize, Honor and Remember what these Veterans have done for this Nation.
It is times like this I am most proud to be a veteran,
Thank you all.
Signed J. Wright, Vice Commander
VFW Post 7016.
From one who salutes and thanks all our Vets for their service, Way To Go EWMS! These Veterans have kept our Freedom and Way of Life protected and for that we are always in their debt.
God Bless You
As the principal of EWMS I am so proud of my students, faculty, and staff. This is what education is all about, teaching the youth of our country to Honor, Respect, and Value others. I love each and every one of “my babies” and they mean the world to me. To “Nikki and E.M.D. you are very welcome:>)
What a nice thing to do. On behalf of my late husband (Viet war veteran), I thank you.
Congrats Ernest Ward! What an honorable thing to do for our veterans. You could have raised money for something at the school, but you chose to give back to the community. Semper Fi.