LINCOLN – A ceremony was held earlier this week recognizing several dozen heroes who helped save lives during the 2019 flooding in Nebraska.
According to a release from the office of Governor Pete Ricketts, the Governor and First Lady Susanne Shore were joined by Major General Daryl L. Bohac (Adjutant General of the Nebraska National Guard) and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Assistant Director Bryan Tuma to present the honors.
The ceremony was held in the State Capitol Rotunda Tuesday.
Nominations were first submitted in June for the Flood Heroes honor as hundreds of names were received. The State Capitol ceremony is the first of several ways the Governor and First Lady plan to honor heroes from the 2019 floods over the course of the next year.
James Wilke, a farmer from Columbus, was the first Flood Hero recognized as he sacrificed his life while volunteering to save a stranded motorist.
The Governor and First Lady then presented an award to air crewmen and coordinators with the Nebraska National Guard while also a group of brave men from the Fremont area were honored for their heroism.
To read short bios of the other individuals recognized at Tuesday’s ceremony, click here. An album of photos from Tuesday’s event is also available by clicking here.
Fire Department Honorees who attended the ceremony:
Ainsworth Fire Department
Cedar Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Fremont Fire Department
Lynch Volunteer Fire Department Chief
Mead Volunteer Fire Department Chief
Monroe Volunteer Fire Department Chief
Nickerson Volunteer Fire Department
North Bend Volunteer Fire Department
Pierce Volunteer Fire Department
Valley Volunteer Fire Department
Waterloo Fire Department
Other Fire Departments being honored, but unable to attend the ceremony include:
Chapman Fire Department
Fremont Rural Volunteer Fire Department
O’Neill Volunteer Fire Department
Pleasanton Fire Department
Spencer Volunteer Fire Department
Wood River Volunteer Fire Department