The Windham Eagle’s managing editor wins award for outstanding coverage of veterans

Ed Pierce, managing editor of The Windham
Eagle newspaper, was awarded the Fourth
Estate Award for outstanding coverage of
veterans and veterans' issues during the 
Maine American Legion's 102nd Annual
Convention in Brewer on June 12. Pierce
has spent 46 years in journalism, including
eight years of service as a military journalist
in the U.S. Air Force. SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Lorraine Glowczak

The American Legion’s 2021 Fourth Estate Award for outstanding coverage of veterans and veteran’s issues in Maine was presented to Ed Pierce, managing editor of The Windham Eagle newspaper, during the 102^nd annual Maine American Legion Convention in Brewer on Saturday, June 12.

Pierce’s dedication to highlighting veterans is especially appreciated by those who have served and now live in the Windham and Raymond communities. One of those individuals is David Tanguay of Windham who is the American Legion Department of Maine District Two Adjutant and is the person who nominated Pierce for this award.

“In the 14 months that Ed has been managing editor of The Windham Eagle newspaper, he has provided a personal touch to his stories about our local veterans and has elevated the visibility of the local veterans’ organizations such as the American Legion Field-Allen Post and the local VFW Post within the community,” Tanguay said. “Edmund Pierce exemplifies the attribute of the aware and is most deserving of recognition.”

Pierce said he is deeply humbled and honored to receive the award.

“We’re all very fortunate in Windham to have a number of World War II veterans still with us today and active members of the American Legion Field-Allen Post 148,” Pierce said while accepting his award in Brewer. “Those guys are the real individuals who deserve an award, all I do is tell their stories.”

He also shared that he is grateful to The Windham Eagle Publisher Kelly Mank and Advertising Director Melissa Carter for their continued support for veterans and veterans’ causes in the Windham area.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Ed and the work he has done within our community to highlight our service men and women - and doing so with such a personal touch. We can’t forget the history - we need to learn from it and Ed has been instrumental in telling those stories and providing that education.” Mank said.

Pierce thanked Tanguay and members of American Legion Post 148 for nominating him for this award. He also recognized two other very important people in his life who have made contributions to his success.

“I would be remiss not to thank my wife, Nancy, for encouraging me to come out of retirement to work for The Windham Eagle and for her unwavering support of my writing and career,” he said. “Lastly, I want to thank my father who died in 1991. He was a World War II veteran who recognized that I would be better suited as a journalist than a high school basketball coach and changed my declared major to journalism when he submitted my application to attend college. More than 50 years later, I have come to appreciate that decision more than ever.” 

Pierce has held a long and successful career in journalism that spans 46 years, including eight years serving as a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Air Force in Germany, at The Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of New Mexico and has worked professionally as a sportswriter, newspaper page designer, news reporter and newspaper editor, rising through the ranks to lead the newsrooms of seven different daily and weekly newspapers as top editor. <