Page 26 2026 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2026 Mike Kavanaugh Since we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, it seems only right to honor those who have served our country. This hometown hero has served his country and community and continues to show up when called. Mike Kavanaugh of Emden, IL, served as a Marine in the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. He continues to serve the community he has called home since 1998 through the Legion and by lending a helping hand where he can. Mike joined the Marines because he wanted to prove to himself that he could do it. He said they are the toughest branch to get into. Between his active and inactive time in the Marines, he served for 8.5 years. He has continued to serve veterans for decades after his time in the service. As a Vietnam-era veteran, Mike explained that veterans were not warmly received upon returning from the war. Therefore, he has dedicated his life to honoring other veterans and ensuring they receive the respect and dignity they deserve. Mike has been a member of the American Legion for 30 years and served as commander of American Legion Post #506 for over 20 years. He is also the commander of 40 & 8 Voiture #985 in Lincoln, where he has been a member for 17 years. One of the hardest, but most important, parts of his job as commander is finding people willing to serve in honor guards to pay their respects to veterans. His work as commander of 40 & 8 consists of organizing fundraisers for their main projects: nursing scholarships
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