While the entire school gathered to watch the impromptu ceremony on Friday morning, retired Alabama National Guard Maj. Nancy Waller (in blue) presented Barbara Traweek, director of the Cohn Early Childhood Learning Center (holding certificate), with the Alabama National Guard’s Patriotic Employer Award “for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s national guard and reserve force.”
Barbara, who was made aware of the award only when she received it, was nominated by Specialist Madelyn Helms (second from left), an ECLC teacher and member of the headquarters support company of the 877th Engineer Battalion based in Haleyville. “I always say ‘yes’ when I am asked to report to my unit, and my boss is always supportive no matter how much of a bind this puts her in,” wrote Madelyn in her nomination.