On Sunday, July 26, several Korean War veterans were recognized at the Korean War Recognition Ceremony held in Creighton.
Knox County Vet coordinated with Antelope, Holt, and Pierce counties to hold the event since many from the area couldn’t attend the governor’s recognition ceremony in Lincoln.
Veterans from Knox County that were recognized were Donald Schulz, Bloomfield; Walter Boham, Verdigre; James Wagner, Winnetoon; Inez Baldwin, Creighton; Donovan Eggen, Bloomfield; Andrew Meirose, Bloomfield; Conrad Frevert, Bloomfield; Donald Knori, Niobrara; Leeland Kolterman, Niobrara; Garland Pageler, Creighton; Donald Stoural, Verdigre; Daniel Repenning, Bloomfield; Norman “Ted” Haverkamp, Verdigre; Dale Friedenbach, Bloomfield; Marvin Herbert, Verdigre; LeRoy Emory, Creighton; Richard Gieselman, Bloomfield; Dale V. Nielsen, Creighton; and William Kremer and Gerard “Jake” Van Heek, who are both from Crofton.
According to Knox County Veteran Services Officer Kelly Hanvey, the youngest Korean War era veteran in Knox County is 90 years old, with Jake Van Heek from Crofton being the oldest that attended at age 98.
Hanvey wanted to be able to recognize the veterans in the area, “As a County Veteran Service Officer familiar with the veterans in our area, I knew that attending the ceremony Governor Pillen had in Lincoln on Friday would be quite challenging. The youngest Korean War era veteran in Knox County is 90 years old. My roster of 20+ veterans compelled me to discuss this opportunity with the Veterans Service Committee.”
The chairman and the committee were supportive throughout the planning process. There were over 75 veterans and guests that were served lunch. Each veteran was honored with a commemorative coin that was minted for the special case of honoring them, which were awarded by the Director of the Nebraska Department of Veteran Affairs, John Hilgert.