WWII Veterans
NDVA and Governor Pillen are launching an initiative in 2025 to recognize and honor Nebraska's living World War II veterans in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Eligible veterans can receive the "Celebrating 80 Years of Victory" medal at special in-person ceremonies at the Nebraska State Capitol on Victory in Europe Day (5/8/25) or Victory over Japan Day (9/2/25), through their Mayor's Office in participating cities and towns, or by having them mailed to their home.
Information on the program and the application is below. For questions, please reach out to our office at 402-471-2458 or ndva@nebraska.gov.
Help spread the word with our WWII Medal flyer.
Announcement News Conference
Eligibility
Nebraska's WWII Recognition Medal is reserved for living veterans meeting the conditions below.
- Must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces between Dec 1, 1941, to Dec 31, 1946,
- Must be a current legal resident of Nebraska or demonstrate Nebraska residency at time of entering service, AND
- Must have discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Application
If you would like a printable version of this form, please click here.
More About the Medal
On the front of the medal is the slogan of this initiative: "Celebrating 80 Years of Victory." It includes Nebraska's famous Sower in front of the state and surrounded by a laurel wreath, a symbol of triumph. The backside of the medal features the words "On Behalf of a Grateful State, Thank You for Your Service" emblazoned above the personification of victory standing in front of the 48-star flag of 1946. The ribbon design pays homage to the U.S. Military's World War II Victory Medal (which is itself a doubling of the pattern of the World War I Victory Medal). Medals will be housed in a velvet box and come with an accompanying ribbon bar. Please note: the design and packaging may change in production of the physical medals.
FAQ
Details on the program are outlined in our World War II Veteran Recognition Program Overview. Some common questions are answered below.
Is there a cost to this program?
All expenses for the program will be covered by NDVA and sponsoring organizations. There will be no cost to veterans who apply or cities who help distribute the WWII Veteran Recognition Medal.
Can medals be awarded posthumously?
Only living World War II veterans are eligible to apply for the Nebraska WWII Veteran Recognition Medal.
When will medals be distributed?
In-person events will be held at the Nebraska State Capitol on May 8, 2025, and September 2, 2025. Local events hosted by cities and towns will be determined by those cities and towns. NDVA will begin mailing medals out to those who choose to receive theirs via mail around the beginning of 2025.
I chose to receive my medal in the mail but would also like to attend the in-person event. Can I do that?
Yes, we would be honored to have as many World War II veterans and family members at our in-person events as possible!
For other questions, please contact ndva@nebraska.gov.
Hometown Heroes
In addition to honoring Nebraska's World War II veterans, we want to recognize the civilians who helped support the war efforts back home. Examples of these activities include, but are not limited to:
- Joining the wartime workforce, such as munitions or weapons production or vehicle manufacturing (e.g. Rosie Riveters)
- Serving as a member of the Crop Corps or growing a Victory Garden
- Providing nourishment to soldiers at a Canteen, such as the ones in North Platte and Norfolk
- Partaking in food rationing
Special certificates will be produced that will be presented in person at our ceremonies in 2025, or can be mailed to recipients' homes.