For the second time this week, local veteran Don Bernholtz was recognized by his home community for a lifetime of service, both in uniform and to those in the armed forces after his retirement. Now in its second year, the Hometown Hero Award was added to the list of honors presented at the Carroll Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet to recognize the veterans who are the foundation of the region. The evening’s emcee, John Ryan, outlines the award’s qualifications.
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RT Schreck, another prominent local veteran, presented this year’s award and says Bernholtz’s 70-plus years of service and volunteerism are practically unheard of by today’s standards.
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Schreck says every American owes a debt of gratitude to Bernholtz and the men like him.
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Bernholtz says he has aspired to service since he was a child, after seeing men he looked up to return home after WWII.
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In addition to the Chamber’s Hometown Hero Award, Schreck also presented Bernholtz with a certificate formally recognizing his commitment to veterans. Bernholtz was honored earlier in the week for his 30 years of volunteer work through the U.S. Department of War’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), which helps the nation’s many citizen-soldiers navigate the challenges of monthly drills, annual training, and deployments while also living and working in their communities. Carroll Broadcasting will bring you more from other award recipients in upcoming newscasts.
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Citizen of the Year: Ryan Milligan
Heritage Business: Performance Tire and Service; and Mid-Iowa Insurance and Real Estate
New Business: Crossroads Nutrition and Caring Hearts of West Central Iowa
Public Service: Trish Roberts
Hometown Hero: Don Bernholtz
Humanitarian: Michelle McGull
Good Neighbor: Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and Dawn Meyer