Cody Kerr Award

For more than 60 years, the

Department of Nebraska has

recognized Legionnaires for their

community service through its

Cody Kerr Memorial Award.

At the time of his death, 47-year

old Cody Kerr, a World War II

veteran from Valentine, was the

department’s community service

chairman. His selfless service

to The American Legion and the community was so well respected that his

Legionnaire friends wanted to find a way to honor his memory. They did so by

developing the Cody Kerr Memorial Award, which was first presented to his

widow, Belle Kerr, in 1954.

This award, presented annually at department convention, is given to a

Legionnaire who has performed superior work in a community service project

or program for the prior year. Any Legion member can nominate another

Legionnaire and the selection committee is comprised of the three immediate

past department commanders.

The 2018 recipient of the Cody Kerr Memorial Award was presented to Post

3’s very own Ed Schnabel at the department convention in Kearney. While most of us are aware of Ed’s daily contributions to American Legion activities in Post3, the Cody Kerr Award recognizes Ed for the many other things he does in the

community in service to others.

Space does not allow printing Ed’s entire nomination form, but it made it clear

that Ed was most deserving.

Ed taught school and was active in other civic activities in Hartington. He also

taught school in Farnam and organized a committee to start a community blood

drive there. (He continues donating blood to this day and is an 18-gallon donor

with the Lincoln Community Blood Bank.)

Ed became active with the Lions in Farnam and helped charter a new Lions

Club in Lincoln. He remains very active with the Star City Lions club now.

Ed has been involved with a number of projects within the Lincoln Public

Schools and volunteers many hours at the VA Health Clinic in Lincoln. He

participates with Post 3’s Honor Guard and remains very active in his church.

Congratulations, Ed, for making all of us very proud of you!