aon

LEVY COUNTY JOURNAL AROUND LEVY COUNTY

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2006

 

Out with the old; in with

BY CAROLYN RISNER
ManaaING Epitor

Old soldiers never die, they
just move to Eufaula, Ala.

At least that’s George
Hermansen’s plan come this
Sunday morning.

After more than four years
as the veterans’ service officer
for Levy County, Hermansen
will pack his rod and reel
and .with wife, Pat, move
somewhere he can fish at his
leisure, enjoy the good life
and take care of his health.

It is with bittersweet
emotions that Hermansen
leaves the position he loves
but he knows he must.

“I want to live,” he said
Monday morning on one of
his last days of work.

Hermansen’s __ retirement

was brought on by the need

to take care of himself.
Although -he said he knew
his health was precarious as
early on as the 1970s, it was
three major heart attacks in
2002 that truly became his
wake up call.

And when he and Pat
leave Sunday, it will be with
no regrets and a promise to
return to Levy County often.
“I’ve made too many friends
to not come back,” he said.

 

Hermansen retires; Engel steps in

 

 

Journal photos by Carolyn Risner

RIGHT UP until the last week, George Hermansen and Michael Engel have debated whose desk it is. The

two agreed to share for the photo session this week.

Born in Massachusetts’
to Norwegian immigrants,
Hermansen has lived most of
his life in Florida, particularly
the Largo/Clearwater area.

Hoping to find himself, he
left home at 16 and headed
to New Jersey where he
found work at the Shiny
Ball Christmas Ornament
Company where he put the
little silver end in ornaments
in the days before it was
automated.

Realizing __ it wasn’t
something he wanted to do
the rest of his life, he joined
the Marine Corps.. After
boot camp at Parris Island,

Hermansen.. trained.- as, an

engineer and was sent to
Vietnam for a year in 1965-66.

' “Back then we still believed

in the war,” Hermansen said.
“The country was behind us
and we thought we could

” He said someday he’d

like to return.

. After his four years in the
Marines, . Hermansen sold
insurance for over 33 years.
In the 70s he had bought five
acres in Levy County because
he liked to hunt, and after the

‘insurance stint moved here.

He sold the five acres and
bought 30 acres and in 2002
applied for the service officer

_ position.

“It’s all about helping
the veterans,” he said. Last
week the county presented
him with a certificate of
appreciation. Humbled by the

action, Hermansen said, “I’d —

rather:-help one: veteran who
didn’t need it; than miss one
who did.”

That philosophy summed
up Hermansen’s. career in
Levy County as he reflected
on.some of the cases he has
worked. .

. Stories of large settlements

for veterans who didn’t
expect anything are rampant.
Particularly gratifying are the
ones where the veteran was
in dire financial straits, at risk
of losing everything, and then
the award comes.

And yet not all of his work

has had happy endings.
“Some you can do nothing
for, but you listen,” he said.
And show he cares. “We
freely dispense hugs,” he
said. “Lots of, hugs.”
This time next week, the
work of the veterans’ service
officer will be behind him.
Or will it?
“Wve already helped -a

couple of guys in Eufaula,” \y
. he chuckled.

2 ae as aie ok ok ok ok

One can joke with Michael
Engel about having big shoes
to fill, but he knows it’s true.

Engel replaces George

Hermansen who retires this _

week as the Levy County
Veteran’s Service Officer.

For almost a year, Engel has
worked under Hermansen’s
guidance and he knows what
is expected and what he needs
to do.

Born in Miami, Engel
came to Levy County i
the mid-70s. Shortly after
high school, he married.
After working three jobs at
once, and burning himself
out, Engel joined the Army
looking for a better way of
life for his family that soon
included four children.

From California to Panama
_to Ft. Stewart, Engel worked

‘in air ‘defense ‘and then was.

deployed to the Middle East
during the first Gulf War.
After eight months in the
Gulf, he was assigned to dock
protection and in 2002 left
the military.

A series of personal woes

the new

befell him and his first
marriage ended. He then
married current wife, Ginger,
who he credits with saving
his life and encouraging him
to be the best he can be.

Coming to’ work in the
service office was a natural
progression since before he
left the Army, he was assisting
soldiers and veterans.

Like his predecessor,
Engle believes that helping
veterans is the calling he has
answered,

For their service to this
country, Engel is a huge
supporter of entitlements due
veterans. “Everything we do
for veterans is because they
have earned it,” Engel said.

During his tenure in the
Bronson office, Engel has

associated helping veterans
and their dependents.

“Sometimes it’s like the

widow who comes in for a
flag and ends up receiving a
pension she didn’t know she
was entitled to,” Engel said.
. Veterans often struggle
financially and when an
award is made that helps
them’ out and gives them
peace, Engel gets the feeling
of satisfaction.

In his spare time, Engel:
enjoys war games played
with friends who are paintball
fanatics, fishing and spending
time with his family that
includes two more children
with Ginger.

“Being a parent never
stops,” Engel said and neither
will his work as the veterans’
service officer.

With 8,600 known veterans

in Levy County, he will

continue to assist veterans
and ensure they — receive
everything they earned for
their service to this country.

 

Gazebo Hears completion at museum [Fy77-q help for Part D still available

BY WINNELLE HORNE
CORRESPONDENT

Log Cabin Quilters met Thursday, June 22:
at the Levy County Quilt Museum. Summer
is here and the cool air feels so good. It took
a while to put air conditioners in, but we
knew we would have to have it. As big as the
building is (we have a big one in the great
room) and it doesn’t take long to cool us off.

We enjoyed our visitors

Suwannee and Crystal River. There is much
to see here and we enjoy telling them about
the years it took to build and pay for all we

have.

The gazebo has been finished as far as
Lancaster and Jarrod have done. We do plan
to put lights in and light plugs as we hope

 

to use it for bluegrass and gospel music. We °

also hope someone will want to be married

from Ocala,

out there as we think that would be great. We
are very proud of the five boys who worked
almost every day for two weeks to get it this
far. The boys will know how to use drills and
saws and all it took to build it in their future.
Thank you, Lancaster, Jarrod and boys.

We will be going to Camp Caruth to teach —
about 50 children how to sew. It is always a
fun day and will get to see Mike’s new son.

Lunch was so good with fried squash,
eggplant casserole, lots of salads, all kind of
desserts and so much more. Eight visitors and
12 members were present.

_ Winnelle Horne is the director of the
Levy County Quilt Museum.

SHINE (Serving Health
Insurance Needs of Elders),
a volunteer program with
the Florida Department
of Elder Affairs, will
counsel on Medicare
issues, including help with
problems with Part D:
Prescription Drug Plans at
the following sites:

Wednesday, July5 10
a.m.-noon Williston
Public Library

1:30-3:30 p.m. Bronson
Public Library

Wednesday,
10 a.m.-noon
Senior Center

Chiefland

    
 

July 12

2-4 p.m. Cedar Key
Public Library

Wednesday, July 19 10
a.m.-noon AF Knotts
Library, Yankeetown .

Wednesday, July 26 10

a.m.-noon Trenton
Library
2-4 p.m. Cross City
Library
The initial enrollment
period for the Medicare

Drug Plans is over. The next
enrollment. period begins
Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 31,
2006. At that time, you may
enroll in a plan or change
plans. More information

Extra Help in paying for the

     
       
        
         
         
  
 
          
      
      
   
 
    

will be given closer to that
time.

If you are turning 65, you
will be able to join a Part D
Drug Plan.

Whether you have or
have not enrolled in a Part
D Prescription Drug Plan as
yet, you may be eligible for

plan premium, deductible
and drugs. ,

Call 1-800-262-2243
(Elder HelpLine) if you
need directions to a site or
are unable to visit one. A
volunteer will return your
call.

GREENSOUTH
Equipment, ae

ere OTe rs
now Chiefian a
authorized'-

ECHO ier Ca

Come see John
for all your
outdoor power
Tupi

ae es 493-4121 ¢ Fax: 352- 493-9100

www.greensouthequipment.com

107 SW 4th Ave.
- Chiefland, FL. 32644

 

WS

PNT et eels
—

already experienced much joy —