Milward Funeral Directors offers opportunity
for Lexingtonians to pay respect to President Ford

(Lexington, KY)—As the nation mourns the late President Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States of America, Milward Funeral Directors is making it easier for Central Kentuckians to communicate words of sympathy to his family.

Milward Funeral Directors will have a memorial register book for people to sign in honor of the former president, 159 North Broadway and 391 Southland Drive, as well as online at www.milwardfuneral.com.

Additionally, anyone interested in dropping off sympathy letters or donations to the memorial contribution can do so. In lieu of sending flowers, former first lady Betty Ford has requested that people make memorial contributions to the Gerald R. Ford Foundation Memorial Fund, 303 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 40504-5353. The Gerald R. Ford Foundation has established the Memorial Fund to honor the principles and values demonstrated by President Gerald R. Ford throughout his public service career. This fund will benefit his Library and Museum in its role to educate Americans about the unique history and significant events of the Ford presidency, as well as a broader understanding of American history, government and the presidency. The Gerald R. Ford Foundation is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the limits allowed by the IRS.

After giving people in Central Kentucky enough time to sign the memorial register book, write sympathy letters and drop off memorial donations, Milward Funeral Directors will forward everything to the Ford family.

"With the national outpouring of sympathy for former President Ford; we feel compelled to do our part in providing an outlet for people in Lexington to express their sympathy," said Rob Milward, vice president of Milward Funeral Directors. "While many of us have privately mourned President Ford's death by watching television coverage of the president's funeral, some will wish to do more."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 1, 2006
CONTACT: Kim Wade
Public Relations Director
BAKER COMMUNICATIONS
859-245-1100
kim_wade@bakercomm.com

Our Community Remembers
A gathering for reflection, healing and hope

(Lexington, KY)—At 7p Monday, September 11, five years after terrorists high-jacked jetliners and attacked the United States, and just two weeks after the tragedy of Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport, people of Central Kentucky are invited to gather to remember innocent lives lost, to reflect upon these events and to hear words and music of healing and hope.

The site of the service will be Immanuel Baptist Church, 3100 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY, in its 1,800 seat sanctuary.

The program host will be WLEX-TV 18 News Anchor and Reporter Nancy Cox, who helped our community learn the unfolding story in the aftermath of Comair Flight 5191.

From a faith-based perspective, remarks will be made by Immanuel Baptist Church Senior Pastor Craig Loscalzo, Ph.D.

Nationally recognized grief counseling specialist Sherry Williams, who provided services to individuals and groups in New York City post – 9/11/01, will offer perspectives on coping with tragedy and grief, address the role of a community in supporting survivors and lead the audience in a participatory candlelight service. Just three weeks ago, Mrs. Williams conducted a grief recovery program at The Lexington Cemetery, providing a basic understanding of grief, how it affects next-of-kin survivors, their friends and the community and techniques for recovering from traumatic loss.

The following are comments from some of the leaders of business and service organizations that have come together to support this community program.

"After a tragedy that affects an entire community, it is incumbent upon businesses, churches and other organizations to join together to conduct multiple community memorial programs to help as many people as possible to mourn and celebrate the lives of those who died," said Bob Milward, licensed funeral director and owner of Milward Funeral Directors. "These types of community services, in addition to visitations and funerals for the families and friends of individual victims, are very important to help them to celebrate the lives of their loved ones and to cope through the grieving process."

"This program is our special way of reaching out to families we have served, and to all others in the community, to let them know they do not have to suffer emotional pain and travel their grief journey alone," said Dan Scalf, president and general manager of The Lexington Cemetery. "At the historic community burial grounds, we have provided private and public services to many survivors of the recent plane crash, so we know the importance and meaning of solace and understanding that larger gatherings such as this one have for them and the community at large."

"As citizens of the United States, we need to gather on 9/11 each year to remember and commemorate the deaths at the hands of terrorists on 9/11/01 and continuing sacrifices of survivors of the victims who lost their lives on that terrible day," said Tom Baker, Chairman of the Bluegrass Military Affairs Coalition. "We must not forget the passengers and crew members on the high-jacked jets, civilians in the World Trade Center and Pentagon, fire, police and emergency responders who in the line-of-duty and self-sacrifice were killed by enemies of this great nation. The 9/11 deadly attacks on America caused the civilian elected leadership of this country to go to war. This nation is still at war, so it is appropriate and fitting that citizens in communities across the land gather to pause, reflect and gain perspective from the past five years. This annual 9/11 commemoration is more poignant due to the most recent loss of so many lives due to another tragic jet plane crash, this one in our community. "

For additional information, contact Immanuel Baptist Church at 859.685.3200.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 11, 2005

CONTACT: Kim Wade

Public Relations Director

BAKER COMMUNICATIONS
859-245-1100
kim_wade@bakercomm.com

OR NFDA – Katie Monfre: 800-228-6332

 

Milward Funeral Directors Receives National Award

National Funeral Directors Association Announces Pursuit of Excellence Winners

Brookfield, Wis. – Milward Funeral Directors, of Lexington, KY has received the 2004 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of Excellence Eagle award. This mark of excellence honors funeral homes for their outstanding community service, technical ability, and professional integrity. Milward Funeral Directors is one of only 245 funeral homes from 12,200 to be presented a Pursuit of Excellence award by the NFDA. This recognition puts Milward in the Top 2% of all funeral homes in the United States.

 

“Pursuit of Excellence funeral homes provide innovative and compassionate care to the families they serve,” said NFDA Chief Executive Officer Christine Pepper. “Through commitment to their communities and providing services of the highest professional standards, these funeral homes are raising the bar for all funeral homes in the country.”

 

Achieving recognition in the Pursuit of Excellence program is a rigorous process. A funeral home must meet strict quality service criteria in nine categories of achievement. The categories include: education, compassionate service, technical skills, community and professional service, library or media resources, professional development, in-house staff training, and public and community relations.

 

NFDA is the leading funeral service association, serving more than 20,300 funeral directors who represent more than 12,200 funeral homes in the United States and other countries. From its headquarters in Brookfield, Wis., and its Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., NFDA provides advocacy, education, information, products, programs and services to help members enhance the quality of service to families.

 

For more information, visit www.nfda.org.

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Download a high-resolution photograph of Governor Breathitt for media usage (3.92 Mb JPEG).

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For Immediate Release:
May 20, 2003
CONTACT:
BAKER COMMUNICATIONS
Kimberly Wade, Public Relations Director
Phone: 859-245-1100
Fax: 859-245-2022
kim_wade@bakercomm.com

Robert E. Milward Re-designated as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner

Lexington, KY - The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP) in Columbus, Ohio, recently re-designated Robert E. Milward, president of Milward Funeral Directors, as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP). Bob Milward is one of only 14 in Kentucky and the only Lexington funeral director with CFSP certification.

To be certified with the designation of CFSP, a funeral director must complete a 180 hour program of continuing education and events. To be re-certified, a funeral director is required to accumulate 20 hours per year for professional and/or personal growth areas and earn credits from the Academy. As a CFSP designate, Milward has made a commitment to provide exceptional service to his community through professional and civic activities.

A graduate of the University of Virginia, Bob Milward has carried forth the Milward family funeral service tradition while serving as a director for professional associations including: Selected Independent Funeral Homes; Kentucky Funeral Directors Association; and the National Foundation of Funeral Service.

His community service includes Charter Member, Past-President and 30-year board member of the Bluegrass Community Foundation, Past-President Hospice of the Bluegrass and Co-Chairman of the 1991-92 Capital Campaign Committee. A former Vestryman at Christ Church Cathedral, he has served as a director of AAA Bluegrass/Kentucky Automobile Club for 29 years.

Bob has served on numerous boards, including The Salvation Army for 30 years, Lexington Federal Savings and Loan Association for 26 years, Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Headley-Whitney Museum, Better Business Bureau, Y.M.C.A. (High Street), United Way of the Bluegrass, Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts (Bluegrass Council) and as a Trustee at the Lexington School.

He was the youngest President of the Lexington Rotary Club and received the President's Cup in 2002, served two terms as Chairman of the Board of the Lafayette Club and continues on the Board of the Triangle Foundation and the U.S. Bank Central Kentucky Advisory Board.

A number of professions grant special recognition to members upon completion of specified academic and professional programs. The CFSP is the national individual recognition for funeral service practitioners who have upheld high standards in their professional, community and civic activities. The goals of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, since it was founded in 1976, are to:

recognize those practitioners who have voluntarily entered into a program of personal and professional growth;

raise and improve the standards of funeral service; and,

encourage practitioners to make continuing education a life-long process in the interest of their career