Ernest Ward Middle Honors Local Veterans For Their Service

November 11, 2020

Unable to hold their annual Veterans Day program due to the pandemic, Ernest Ward Middle School found another way to honor local veterans,

Ernest Ward students made patriotic wreaths that were presented to members of the community.

‘It was a great way to honor each veteran’s service,’ Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry said.

One wreath was presented to Michael and Gayle Hanks in honor of Michael’s military service in the Army, for his career serving veterans as veterans service office, and also in memory of Gayle’s father, James Hilton Hall, Srl, who recently passed away.

Another patriotic wreath was presented to Lois Ward (pictured below) in honor of her late husband, former Escambia County Judge Billy G. Ward of Walnut Hill. He served his country in the U.S. Army on foreign soil during World War II. He went on to serve as a justice of the peace and a county judge in Escambia County from 1957 to 1988. Billy Ward passed away in May at the age of 95.

In October 2009, Ward was one of just over 100 WWII veterans that traveled to Washington on the Fifth Annual Emerald Coast Honor Flight so that the veterans could see the World War II Memorial — their memorial. Ward took along a camera and shared his day with NorthEscambia.com readers.

An additional wreath will presented later this week to another veteran.

The wreaths were made by Ernest Ward students in Glenda Bell’s personal development class.

Pictured: Gayle and Michael Hanks (above) and Lous Ward (below) with Veterans Day wreaths made by Ernest Ward Middle School students. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Ernest Ward Middle Honors Local Veterans For Their Service”

  1. Bonnie Exner on November 11th, 2020 2:42 pm

    This is a beautiful example of when life gives you lemons..make lemonade…because of Covid19 large gatherings are being curtailed, ERNEST WARD MIDDLE SCHOOL,thinking out of the box,created another way to honor or military..KUDOS to the leadership and all the participants for doing this.

  2. Nancy Perry on November 11th, 2020 1:12 pm

    Thank you William, Northescambia, for all you do for our communities.

  3. EMD on November 11th, 2020 10:28 am

    Thank you to the students and faculty of Ernest Ward Middle School for honoring veterans each year. Such a nice patriotic gesture and educational opportunity for students and community. Thank you for all of your nice letters of invitation each year. It is nice to be remembered. I know others have also been blessed by all you do for veterans. Again, a big THANK YOU.

  4. Jackie Johnson on November 11th, 2020 8:33 am

    Thank you to Ernest Ward Middle School and Glenda Bell’s Class for making the beautiful wreaths for presentation.