Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Joe Hernandez stands with his recently received award, an Admiralty in the Nebraska Navy. This award, bestowed upon Hernandez by Governor Pete Ricketts was presented during a the October VFW Post #2243 meeting. Hernandez was nominated for the award by Nebraska VFW board member Larry Gerlt for years of dedication and the countless hours Hernandez spent advocating for renewed membership in the local post.
After dodging fellow VFW member Walt Witt for years, a family request put Kimball's Joe Hernandez on the path to receive another commendation.
"I have been a member since 1954 or '55 – 67 years or so," Hernandez said. "For years I dodged Walt Witt, but when a cousin of mine passed away the kids wanted me to be involved in the honor guard." Seeing an opportunity, Witt was able to convince Hernandez to help and once he got involved, Hernandez saw that there was a real need for active members.
"There weren't many veterans to stand at the funerals of the fallen," he said. "I just stuck with it, I stuck with him (Witt)."
For his many years of dedication and service, as well as a lot of preparation work, Hernandez was recently presented with an honorary title of Admiral in the Nebraska Navy, bestowed by Governor Pete Ricketts and presented by VFW State Senior Vice Commander Larry Gerlt at the Thursday, Oct. 13 VFW Post #2243 meeting.
"An admiralty in the Nebraska Navy is an honorary title bestowed by the Governor," Gerlt said. "We (VFW NE) like to use it to recognize someone who deserves more than a certificate signed by the Department Commander."
While essentially handing over the reins of the organization to new leadership, Hernandez went above and beyond to ensure the most successful recruitment campaign possible.
He lined up advanced publicity for the post, scheduled two post members to assist state officers recruit new local members and manned the post home for walk-ins – of which there were several, according to Gerlt.
Hernandez also set up the meal at the post home while the state officials were recruiting new members and prior to the post meeting.
"I asked for this for Joe due to his long standing service to the VFW/his posts and all the groundwork he did in preparation for the membership team visit," Gerlt said. "We were not only able to recruit sufficient interested/active members to elect a full slate of post officers, but we also got 13 members for the Auxiliary and got them going as well."