Retired Nebraska Veterans Home Activities Director Nancy Klimek (center) received the "Honoring Our Veterans" award at the first Grand Generation Center Program Honoring Veterans Nov. 10. Hall County Commissioner Pam Lancaster is on the left, and Hall County Veterans Service Officer Don Shuda is on the right. Klimek received a metal eagle award as part of the presentation. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Local veterans were honored Nov. 10 in the first Grand Generation Center program recognizing veterans.
Featured speakers at the event included Don Shuda, Hall County Veterans Service Officer; Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele; Nancy Klimek, retired activities director at the Nebraska Veterans Home; John Larson, chairman of Hall County Warriors; Tina Johnson, Quilt of Honor presentation; Dave Sayler, Sayler Screenprinting; and Brian Rapp, whose titles include Post Commander of American Legion Post No. 53.
Klimek drew the spotlight as she was awarded the first “Honoring Our Veterans” award. Klimek was the activities director at the Nebraska Veterans Home. She began working at the Veterans Home at age 22 as the activities director and retired from the position 40 years later.
Hall County Commissioner Pam Lancaster sang emotional solos of the National Anthem and “God Bless America.” The audience sang with her with “God Bless America.”
Veterans have been important in “our history for the betterment of mankind,” Steele said. He gave examples of several foes that the United States faced and how the United States military defeated those opponents. Foes included the Soviet Union, Saddam Hussein, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS.
Steele said that veterans have provided service during the last 100 years during two World Wars. Veterans’ legacies are “fundamental to our nation.”
“We remember all veterans who came home and those who did not,” Steele said.
Klimek spoke before she received her award, not knowing that she would be honored.
She described her work at the Nebraska Veterans Home as her life mission. She said that the Nebraska Veterans Home came to Grand Island in 1887 after the community raised $25,000.
Klimek described the multiple ties she has to the country’s armed forces. She had a great-great-grandfather who served during the Civil War. He had three brothers who also served during the Civil War. Klimek learned about her great-great-grandfather from a 1918 newspaper article. Her great-great-grandfather was wounded several times but survived serving during the Civil War.
Klimek said that her father served during World War II. She said she had a son who served in the Navy for 30 years. He was deployed for one year, during which time his children did not have their father present.
Her daughter-in-law, Hollie Klimek, has a leadership role in the local Hometown Heroes project.
After Klimek spoke, Hall County Commissioner Pam Lancaster presented her with the “Honoring Our Veterans” award. Klimek provided individual attention to veterans and made sure that their wants were fulfilled. Klimek was never seen without a smile.
“This was my life’s work,” Klimek said. She gave credit to the Veterans Home staff and volunteers, local residents, and veterans for their support during her career.
John Larson is chairman of the Hall County Warriors project. The project was established in 2021. It is focused on recognizing veterans who have served during the Vietnam War and since then. He described two recent Hall County Warriors projects. The first was the placement of an 8-foot diameter metal globe honoring Vietnam veterans. The locally-fabricated memorial is located at the Hall County Veterans Memorial Park near the Veterans Club. The globe monument was dedicated in 2024.
The second project was placement of a U.S. Army Battle Tank at the Hall County Veterans Memorial Park. The group has a Facebook page titled “Hall County Warriors Memorial.”
Tina Johnson presented a Quilt of Honor to George Olsen. Olsen said after the program that he served in the Army from 1967 to 1969, including spending 16 months in Vietnam. Olsen is a member of the United Veterans’ Color Guard. Johnson said that the Quilt of Honor program began in 2003, and since then, more than 427,000 quilts have been given to veterans.
Dave Sayler of Sayler Screenprinting in downtown Grand Island said that he did not serve in the military but had great respect for veterans. After the program, veterans could pick up coupons to get a free T-shirt at his business.
Brian Rapp is the Post Commander of American Legion Post 53; Commander of American Legion District 6; a board member of the United Veterans Club; and a Chartered Organization Representative for the Boy Scouts of America.
Rapp first acknowledged that Nov. 10 is the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Rapp recognized All Faiths Funeral Home owner Dan Naranjo for his efforts “straight from the heart” to support veterans. Rapp also thanked Mayor Roger Steele, the Hall County Board of Commissioners, Grand Island’s City Council, and Hall County Veterans Service Officer Don Shuda for their support of veterans. Rapp specifically mentioned Hall County Commissioners Pam Lancaster and Gary Quandt and City Council Member Doug Brown, who is a veteran, for their support. Quandt helped organize the Nov. 10 event and is a visible advocate in the community for supporting veterans.
Rapp said that Shuda has served the longest of any veterans service officer in the state. Rapp said that Shuda is mission driven.
“If you have a need, Don is going to help you,” Rapp said.
Rapp focused on “Americanism” during his speech.
“Citizenship is not a spectator sport,” Rapp said. He said that freedom has meaning only when paired with respect and gratitude.
He noted that after veterans have completed their military service, they are noticed in communities for efforts including volunteering.
“May God bless those who have served,” Rapp said.
Grand Generation Center staff prepared meals that were served to veterans and their relatives.
The United Veterans’ Color Guard was involved in the program with Advancing of Colors, Taps, and Retiring of Colors.
The Hall County Warriors Memorial, 1914 W. Capital Ave., is selling a total of 1,763 bricks that will have the name of any veteran etched into them. To purchase a brick, obtain an order form at 1914 W. Capital Ave. The cost of a brick is $125. The cost of a sponsor/donor brick is $1,000. Information on the brick is limited two two lines and must include the veteran’s name, military branch, and year or era of service. The email address for the Hall County Warriors Memorial is hallcountywarriorsmemorial@gmail.com. The Hall County Warriors Memorial also has a Facebook page titled “Hall County Warriors Memorial.”
