Two Nebraska men were honored Thursday in Omaha as part of an initiative to recognize all of the state’s living World War II veterans.
Gov. Jim Pillen holds the microphone for 108-year-old World War II veteran Joe Burgess after presenting Burgess with a medal at Elk Ridge Village in Omaha on Thursday.
Gov. Jim Pillen presented medals to 108-year-old Joe Burgess and 97-year-old John Debiak during a ceremony at the Elk Ridge Village retirement community as part of Nebraska’s World War II Recognition Program in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
John Hilgert, director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs, also attended the ceremony to share his appreciation of Burgess and Debiak’s service.
The medals presented to Burgess and Debiak were inscribed with the message “Celebrating 80 Years of Victory,†as 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The program to honor World War II veterans was announced May 8 during a ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
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Pillen described it as a “goosebumps moment†to get to honor World War II veterans and said he was in Kearney a little over a week ago to honor five veterans there.
“We’re going about the state to meet as many World War II veterans as we can, to simply say thank you and congratulations on having an incredible impact on the world,†Pillen said.
Burgess, who was a B-24 radio operator during the war, said he was honored to receive the medal.
World War II veteran John Debiak shows off a medal and certificate given to him by Gov. Jim Pillen.
“This is beyond my dreams,†he said. “It’s great.â€
Burgess said he appreciates being able to get together with other veterans to talk about “the good stuff†from their years in the service.
Debiak said he joined the Army Transport Service and became a merchant seaman. While he and other merchant seamen were not initially considered part of the armed forces, they were later awarded military status, Debiak said.
“That was something that I remember and appreciated,†he said.
World War II veterans Joe Burgess, 108 (left), and John Debiak, 97, shake hands after Gov. Jim Pillen presented them with medals at Elk Ridge Village in Omaha on Thursday.
Debiak said he was excited to show the medal to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pillen also thanked other veterans present at the ceremony, which included veterans of the Vietnam War and Korean War. As his work takes him to countries around the world, Pillen said he always hears how grateful people are for the work of the United States military.
“We’re working very hard to make sure that every veteran in the state of Nebraska knows how incredibly grateful we are, appreciative we are, and we say thank you,†he said.
Pillen encouraged the veterans at the ceremony to continue to share their stories.
“I think it’s incredibly important ... that we pass along the messages of what it takes to have liberty and freedom and the sacrifices,†he said. “Because if we don’t keep sharing, it can get lost.â€
Top Journal Star photos for December 2024
University of Nebraska - Lincoln sophomore geography major Maxwell Anderson, also known as Jersey Guy, has gone viral for wearing a different jersey to his class every day, Anderson says he has around 100 different jerseys.Â
Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (right) pancake-digs a ball during the fourth set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Dayton on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Homeless man "Papa" George arranges his tent at a north Lincoln camp site, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Lincoln.
Kiptara Thomas (back center), Grace Taylor (front center), and Ayla Brosman (right) prepare in the dressing room ahead of a dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" on Thursday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.Â
Nebraska's Brice Williams (left) dances with Juwan Gary after the Huskers' win against Indiana on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Allie Christianson (top right), a senior community organizer with Civic Nebraska, speaks during an event Thursday at NeighborWorks Lincoln's office formally kicking off an initiative to ban source-of-income discrimination for renters.
Ariana Cunningham, playing Clara (right), practices dancing backstage during a rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Thursday.
Wisconsin's CC Crawford (left) celebrates a kill by Sarah Franklin (13) during the first set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Texas A&M on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Norris' Evan Greenfield (22) scores a layup as Wahoo's Jase Kaminski (13) goes up to defend the basket in the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Wahoo High School.
Ruby Augustine blows out the candles on her birthday cake during her 105th birthday party on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Legacy Retirement Community.
Cicely Wardyn of Lincoln adjusts an outdoor heater next to a Nativity scene during the Hometown Christmas event Sunday at the Governor's Mansion.
Eddie Walters, dressed as the Grinch, leads the pack of runners along the Billy Wolff trail during the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Nebraska plays against Florida A&M in an NCAA tournament game on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Fourth grade student Lulu Kulwick carries her review worksheet to meet with her teacher during computer science class. Each student was asked to analyze how fun, challenging and easy to understand each game was, and discuss what they thought was a good aspect to the game, and what could use some work.
Ben Heppner is illuminated by morning light as he waits for the start of the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, inside the Fleet Feet store.
Nebraska head coach Amy Williams (left) and Callin Hake (14) cheer for their team after a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Members of the Lincoln Journal Star's 2024 Super State volleyball team compete in Dance Dance Revolution and air hockey while at a photo shoot on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at Round 1 Arcade.
Lincoln North Star's J'Shawn Afun (10) and Mekhi Wayne-Browne (11) battle Lincoln Southeast's Jaydee Dongrin (21) for a rebound in the first half on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Miami's Flormarie Heredia Colon (left) and Ashley Carr celebrate a point against South Dakota State during an NCAA first-round match, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Workers pull up the Capitol Christmas tree on Monday at the Capitol. The 22-foot Colorado spruce from Walton was selected by the Office of the Capitol Commission to be this year’s annual Christmas tree.
Jenni Watson helps to arrange chairs for New Covenant Community Church's first service in their repaired main auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at New Covenant Community Church.
New Covenant Community Church is nearing completion of six months of reconstruction project after a fire in May damages the church. While the building was not fully consumed by fire, there was significant water damage to the main auditorium and the first floor south wing.
Jack, the dog, lifts his leg on the Christmas tree that his owners David and Karen Petersen of Hickman chose as Max Novak helps them on Saturday at Prairie Woods tree farm in Hallam.Â
Iowa's Drew Stevens (18) kicks a game-winning field goal through the arms of Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) and Nash Hutmacher (0) on Friday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Lincoln Northwest senior Kynzee McFadden (top right) works with her teammates as they compete in an identifying game on the Anatomage Table on Tuesday at Lincoln Northwest High School.
An Anatomage Table is a digital platform that allows students to perform virtual experiments on a life-size touchscreen. The table is a tool that provides an interactive view of the human body, allowing students to virtually work with different body parts.
Dahlia Brandon of Lincoln tickles her 15-month-old daughter, Gema, with a stuffed animal while shopping at HobbyTown on Saturday. The toy and game store nearly doubled its sales on Black Friday from last year.
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (left) and South Dakota's Max Burchill (3) reach for the ball during the first half of the game on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
