Karla Ward, left, and Gary Ward, right, smile at each other as they hold the Washington County Distinguished Service Award at the 2024 Washington County Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Their son, Army Specialist Christian Ward, passed away in an accident on an Army base at the age of 23, and the Wards started a scholarship program in his honor to help high school students entering the military. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

MARIETTA — Veterans Day is Monday, Nov. 11, and on Nov. 1 the Washington County Veterans Service Commission honored veterans and community members who help veterans at the 2024 Washington County Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Among the award recipients were Lower Salem residents Gary Ward, 52, and Karla Ward, 53, who received the Washington County Distinguished Service Award.

They received it due to “their dedicated and enduring service to the veterans of Washington County,” the event program said. “Their personal courage, determined attitude and diligent effort has significantly aided to the betterment of the veterans of Washington County. Their actions reflect great credit upon themselves, Washington County and the great state of Ohio.”

The Wards were nominated for the award, Gary Ward said, and they were “very surprised” they received it.

“Our son was inducted several years ago as a veteran,” Gary Ward said, and to be honored next to veterans this year “is a privilege and honor for our family.”

Christian Ward is pictured on a helicopter. Ward was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Crew Chief in the Army for a specialized MEDEVAC unit, until he died in an accident on an Army base at the age of 23. (Photo Provided)

“We were very pleased to get the same award our son was given,” Karla Ward said.

It is hard to describe how she feels about she and her husband winning the award, she said, but she feels “undeserving.”

They really enjoy giving back to the veteran community, according to Karla Ward.

One way the Wards give back, according to Gary Ward, is through the Christian Ward Scholarship Fund.

“Our son Christian was killed in an accident in the Army” on base, he said. “Our son was loving and giving and we wanted to make sure his name and honor would endure.”

Army Specialist Christian Ward adjusts equipment on a helicopter. Ward died in an accident on an Army base at the age of 23. (Photo Provided)

He said his son was 23 when he died. Ward previously told The Marietta Times that Christian Ward was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Crew Chief in the Army for a specialized MEDEVAC unit.

Through the fund, he and his wife give students going into the Army from high school a $500 scholarship to help them because sometimes it is expensive to buy things like uniforms or get their families to their graduation ceremonies. He said they can use the money for whatever expenses they need too.

They also help out at Gold Star Park, according to Gary Wood.

Most of the stuff that is done at Gold Star Park is done by volunteers, he said, and on Nov. 2, he, his wife and the Marietta High School cheerleading squad went to the park and performed a cleanup.

“We want to maintain the beauty of the park,” he said and he was contacted by the cheerleading coach about doing a service project for the squad and they decided cleaning up the park “would be a great opportunity.”

Karla Ward, right, hugs Washington County Veterans Service Commission Veteran Service Officer Larry Proctor, left, while Washington County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Darren Shearlock, rear, speaks at the 2024 Washington County Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Ward and her husband Gary Ward received the Distinguished Service Award during the ceremony. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“They cleaned all the monuments and benches and picked up litter,” Gary Ward said.

He also said the cheerleading squad is full of “very hard working ladies and men.”

During the cleanup they explained all the monuments at the park and their meanings, according to Gary Ward.

They also told the cheerleaders about Christian and a bench in memory of him at the park, according to Karla Ward.

“We’re a gold star family, plus two blue stars,” Gary Ward said.

Army Specialist Christian Ward sits on a helicopter. Ward served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Crew Chief in the Army for a specialized MEDEVAC unit until his death in an accident on a base at the age of 23. (Photo Provided)

A blue star family is a family that has an immediate family member serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces were engaged and a gold star is for a loved one that died that served, according to the U.S. Army website.

Christian served in the Army and their daughter Amy serves in the Air Force, according to Gary Ward.

He said two of his children joined the military because his wife’s father was in the military and because “coming from a rural area and being patriotic they decided” to do so.

He said he and his wife are involved in military activism for causes from the federal level down to the local level because it is a way they can give back.

Ward also likes to be involved because it helps him too, he said.

Karla Ward, right, hands a trophy to her husband Gary Ward, left, as Washington County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Darren Shearlock, rear, speaks during the 2024 Washington County Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Wards won the Distinguished Service Award, in part for the scholarship program they created in honor of their son, Army Specialist Christian Ward, who died in an accident on an Army base at the age of 23. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“Losing (Christian) at such a young age” caused Ward to develop depression, he said.

He said “it’s been very hard” since Christian died and “outreach helped overcome that.”

Karla Ward said she and her husband give back to veterans because of what they have seen with their children being in the Armed Forces.

She said they are “thankful that we can help out” because her dad was in the Army and because of “just patriotism.”

Troops need all the support they can get, according to Karla Ward.

Some of the other activities the Wards do is help with different activities at veteran events throughout the year and provide holiday meals to veterans having a hard time, which is probably her favorite thing to do, Karla Ward said.

She said businesses donate items for the holiday meals and then they are able to provide a ham, turkey, rolls, pies and games for kids to the veterans.

“It’s nice to know you can help somebody out that’s already helped and served us,” Karla Ward said. “We just really appreciate our veterans and really appreciate everything they’ve done for our freedoms.”

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentine.com