HARMAR—The Ward family gathered this morning to mark the passing of lifelong local and explosives enthusiast Martin Ward, 79, with the ceremonial firing of 21 Zambelli fireworks at his burial.
Per family members, Mr. Ward earned the honors for his years of service at the nearby beer distributor, including a “medal or badge or maybe it was just a citation” for a fireworks display he personally organized and operated for July 4, 1988. They noted that his “heroics” helped reduce the casualty count to two and his youngest brother Jerry’s right thumb.
“The least we coul—” said his oldest daughter Samantha, interrupted by another mortar blast, “the least we could do is send him off how he lived: engaged in a loud, dangerous act of questionable legality.”
As of press time, Mr. Jerry Ward, 68, was reportedly attempting to comfort the children present by offering them a “high four.”
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