Sponsor the National Office for a Week

 

ZACHARY OWEN WARD

04/21/1976 TO 05/25/2003

 

Zachary grew up with dreams and had the courage and will to go after them.  At 17 he earned the Eagle Scout Award, and upon graduating high school Zach enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he excelled.   His Commanding Officer wrote of  Zach’s accomplishments in a letter to his mother, Georgia, referring to Zach as an “exemplary” Marine.  He praised Zach’s ability and willingness to help other young Marines acclimate themselves to life in the Corps.

Upon completion of four years active duty, Sergeant Ward returned to civilian life and supported himself by building a carpentry business. Wanting to help his community, Zach volunteered for the Cloverdale, CA fire department and, in less than a year, received a recommendation from his Captain to the Santa Rosa Fire Academy.  Zach graduated with one of the top scholastic scores and was given the top award in agility training.  The firefighters loved Zach and in his memory began an annual award for the new firefighter who best exemplified Zach’s attributes, including his sense of humor, humble, hard-working attitude, and caring interest in the people he met.  Hanging on the firehouse wall is a large metal plaque in Zach’s honor made by a fellow firefighter.

Zach’s penchant for working with his hands included automobile mechanics and a desire to work on vintage motorcycles.   Accepted into the Arizona Motorcycle Institute, Zach and his new bride, Jessica, moved to Phoenix.  On May 25, 2003, with only five more months of schooling, a motorist ran a red light, driving in front of Zach as he entered an intersection on his motorcycle.  Zach died at the scene.

Zachary Owen Ward had beaten the odds when, growing up without his father, he became an honorable asset to society as well as a kind, loving person admired and loved by all who knew him.  Zach’s friends were his family, and his family were his friends. Zach will forever be remembered with love and respect.

                                                           

                                                            Georgia and Bruce Cockerham

 

The services provided by the National Office are free to all who need them and in this spirit, we are providing the opportunity for those who believe in our mission to help us financially by sponsoring the National Office for a week. This is a brand new program and needs your support to be successful.

In 2011 the National Office provided information in response to nearly 130,000 contacts made by bereaved parents, professionals, family, friends, and chapters. These were received via e-mail, phone, and mail. TCF provides an Online Support Community with trained moderators. A monthly e-newsletter is sent to over 16,000 persons interested in TCF activities. TCF's National Facebook Page communicates daily with more than 42,000 members and continues to grow dramatically.The organization also publishes a national magazine, We Need Not Walk Alone, which is widely distributed, not only in print, but also through a free online subscription.

As a way to support these activities and more, you now have the opportunity to "Sponsor the National Office for a Week" in memory of your child, sibling, grandchild, relative, or friend. Sponsorships are $150 each and we will accept up to two sponsors each week. A short narrative about the person in whose memory the sponsorship is made along with a picture of the person can be included on this page. If you have difficulty writing a tribute, we will help you.

To reserve your spot, call Theresa at the National Office at 877-969-0010 or write her at Theresa@compassionatefriends.org. Checks and charge cards may be used to pay for the sponsorship and your donation is tax-deductible. On behalf of the organization and the many who benefit from TCF's programs, we thank you for your support!