Page 12 2025 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2025 beings I know.” She also shared that, to date, Benedict “has procured over $2.3 million in benefits for our veterans.” Fernandes continued, praising Benedict for his ability to cut through the red tape and roadblocks that veterans in the community face. Next, Fernandes talked on how, even when he is not at work, Benedict is always trying to help veterans. “Even when Dan is not in his office,” Fernandes said, “he approaches veterans and talks with them about the VAC to see how he can help.” Stephanie Lucas also had some things to say about Benedict. Lucas was recently hired to the VAC office and now works very closely with Benedict daily. Lucas had worked in the same building as Benedict for about six and a half years before joining him at the VAC. When asked over the phone why Benedict deserves to be called a hometown hero, Lucas requested that she send her answer in written form. Due to her immense respect for Benedict, she was concerned that her words, if not prepared, would not accurately portray him the way he should be. In Lucas’s written answer, she had this to say: “he deserves to be called a Hometown Hero because he altruistically dedicates himself to helping other veterans through his work as the Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission and Third Division Vice President of the IACVAC.” Benedict is someone who has fought long and hard for the veterans of Logan County. Benedict is someone who truly cares deeply about veterans. He is dedicated to serving them in the best way he can and has evidently been doing a fantastic job at it. Everyone talked to had nothing but great things to say and struggled to have just their words convey what makes Benedict so worthy of being called a hero. In Benedict’s own words, “I took the uniform off, and now instead of serving my country I serve my country’s veterans.” This is why Dan Benedict is worthy of being called a hometown hero. [Matt Boutcher]
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