2026 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2026 Page 5 Illinois Veterans Commission (CIVC). When asked how he came about doing this, Hickey stated that he just volunteered. “Nobody asked me. I just told them, ‘if you need some help, I’ll help.” Hickey uses his own equipment when he volunteers, seeing as he used to be an equipment operator. Hickey is an active member of the Marine Corps League (MCL) and is the State Commandant of Illinois District 4. This means that Hickey oversees seven detachments of the MCL. They used to provide medical equipment to veterans but were unable to do it at the capacity they wanted to. Part of the reason for this is a limit that is put on how much money the MCL can bring in each year. This being the case, Hickey and several others with the MCL established the Veterans Medical Group. With this group, Hickey has provided all kinds of medical equipment, such as hospital beds, scooters, lifts, wheelchairs, ramps, and more. Hickey shared that over thirty ramps have been installed since the Veterans Medical Group was created. The group tries to stay within fifty miles of Lincoln but has gone farther to provide needed equipment. Hickey also serves as the Senior Vice President with the 40 & 8. With the 40 & 8, Hickey got the ball rolling on updating the veterans’ memorial at the Logan County Safety Complex on the corner of Broadway and North Hamilton Streets in Lincoln. This is something Hickey himself helped with the renovation of. In addition, Hickey helps raise money for nursing scholarships with this group. As if all this were not enough, Hickey and his dog Maverick are part of the Military Order of the Devil Dogs through the MCL. Being a part of this group, Hickey and Maverick go to a convention once a year and help raise money for kids in children's hospitals. Last year, over $90,000 was donated to the Texas Children’s Hospital, and this year they will be fundraising in August for the Indianapolis Children’s Hospital. Members of the veteran community have nothing but good things to say about Hickey. Dan Benedict, with the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) and one of LDN’s 2025 picks for Hometown Hero, spoke on Hickey’s all around character and willingness to go out of his way. Benedict stated that he met Hickey through the board that oversees the VAC, as Hickey is on this board. He also knows him through the Legion and the Forty & Eight. In the time that he has known Hickey, he has
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