Local legend and World War II veteran Florence “Flo” Gerrard will be turning 100 on June 24, and she received a special visit by American Legion Ira Weaver Post 121 and other veteran advocates at her apartment at Stonehenge Senior Living on Feb. 18.
“We visit every month,” said Post 121 Senior Vice Cmdr. Kathy Merritt, elaborating that the outings are meant to celebrate veteran birthdays and give them some company. Usually, they include small gifts like balloons and sweets; indeed, Gerrard received cupcakes when her retinue stopped by her room, and two balloon bouquets were pinned to her walker in short time.
Continue reading with a subscription.
North Georgia News — serving Union County since 1909.
Cancel anytime.
Gerrard, a known fan of the Atlanta Braves, also received a John Smoltz bobblehead. “How cute is that?” she was heard to utter, admiring the little figure with a grin as she bonded over some pictures of the team hanging up in her living space.
Merritt added that Gerrard often receives a visit regardless of her birthday; she’s well-known among the Legion and its friends and is in fact the reason for many veteran programs in Union County. To remember those days, however, is to know her as Flo Ford.
The year was 1970. Frank and Flo Ford moved to Union County from Jupiter, Florida. The pair purchased 71 acres and called the picturesque property “Ford Mountain.” It’s still held within the family where it stands near Richard Russell Road.
With the couple both being veterans, they were heavily involved in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. Gerrard specifically joined the Women’s Army Corps when she was just 18 years old, shortly after her marriage in 1944.
While her husband was deployed to Europe, Gerrard tended to amputees back home in the United States. Following three months of training, she was sent to McCloskey General Hospital in Waco, Texas. World War II provided a never-ending supply of horrors, and Gerrard admits there were many days where she fought – and sometimes failed to hide – tears.
Understandably, there are stories from that time in her life that stick with her. There was Capt. Black, who lost both hands to an explosion; Gerrard used a pencil tied to his wrist to restore his ability to turn pages while reading.
Then, there was a young man who needed Gerrard’s invaluable Type A blood for an immediate transfusion. His words as they watched her blood flow into his arm remain with her all these years later.
“He said, ‘Thank you for your blood,’” Gerrard recalled. “Not thank you for your service, but thank you for your blood.”
After Mr. Ford came home, he didn’t talk much about the war, Gerrard said. Still, they understood the sacrifices their fellows had made and wanted to help. The Union County of 1970 was very different than that of today, and Gerrard remembers how appalled her husband was at the conditions some local veterans lived in.
They brought attention to the region on a state level with trips to Atlanta’s Veterans Affairs Office and were an integral part of establishing the Blairsville VA Clinic. In 1981, Gerrard and her husband launched the North Georgia Honor Guard, ensuring the fallen received proper military honors at their funerals.
From the start, finding enough money to purchase matching uniforms was an issue, but the group was able to fundraise $3,000; it covered the total for each member and even a few spares.
But a problem arose – almost all of them needed altering. Luckily, Gerrard was a talented seamstress, and with hours of time and boundless determination, she made sure the budding Honor Guard had fitting uniforms.
In one more show of love and solidarity for their fellow veterans, the Fords used the extra space on their land to start up the Holly Hill Cemetery. With 300 plots, burial is free of charge to members of the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Gerrard independently published “All-American Woman: Flo’s Life Story,” which is now undergoing its third edition and can be purchased at the Historic Union County Courthouse courtesy of the Union County Historical Society.
Family and friends from all over the country plan to gather this summer for a dual reunion and celebration in honor of Gerrard’s 100th birthday at Brasstown Valley Resort. In the meantime, Gerrard values her visits from her friends at the American Legion; the feeling is entirely mutual.
