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 i...