Valerie Snyder Is July Veteran Of The Month

By Doug KapkeValerie R. Snyder is Jefferson County’s Veteran of the Month for July of 2025. She was honored Tuesday morning, July 1, by Jefferson County Commissioners. She was also presented with a hand-made, patriotic wall-hanging by Rory Rosener.Snyder was born in Blair in 1979. Her mother was a nurse and her father was a medical professional and farmer. She had an older brother and sister. Her brother served in the Navy. A younger sister married an Army veteran. Snyder’s family moved when she was in kindergarten. She attended grade school in Tri-County. Her freshman and sophomore years were spent at Beatrice and her junior and senior years were back at Tri-County where she participated in journalism and year book activities.Snyder lost her father when she was 15 years old. At age 16 she attended Beatrice Community College for the summer and earned her Certified Nursing Assistant Degree. At age 17, with a parental waiver, Snyder joined the 313th National Guard Medical Unit in Lincoln. Basic Training was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the summer between her junior and senior years in high school. After graduation in 1997, Advanced Individual Training was at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to become an Emergency Medical Technician. During her earliest times in the National Guard it is understandable, because of her very young age, Snyder was mostly treated like everyone’s little sister during weekend drills. Her mother’s advice to always treat medics, supply sergeants and cooks with the utmost respect served her well during her time in the service to her Country. Once, in the late 1990’s Snyder’s unit was called upon to help do a cleanup after a major storm in Lincoln.Drills and Advanced Training were all about staying ready to deploy by staying on top of new medical training, keeping ambulances running, keeping medical bags prepared, being proficient with intravenous injections and learning to drive at night with night vision glasses. Training with the 24th Medical Unit at Ashland with helicopters was always interesting.In October, 2001, the 313th Medical Unit was sent to Egypt for two weeks to participate in “Operation Bright Star,” which over the years consisted of operations between the United States, Egypt and 32 other nations.S pecialist 4th Class Snyder has fond memories of summer camps in places like Wyoming and Louisiana. She enjoyed all aspects of military life, especially the medical training and made many wonderful friends. During her time in the service she received: Army Service Medal, Expert Badge – Grenade and Marksman Badge - Rifle.Since 2000, Snyder became involved with the Home Health Program and has cared for an elderly gentleman in our community since then. Since 2002 she has spent her time working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Since 2014 she has spent part time as a swimming instructor at Jefferson County Health and Life. In 2017 Valerie began working for Verizon as a Multi-Unit General Manager in Geneva and Fairbury.Snyder is a member of the Elks, VFW, on the Board of “Homeless No More Cats Rescue” and is a member of “Middle Paws,” which transports homeless animals to rescue facilities. She and her husband, Matt, of 26 years, live and work in Fairbury and have three adult children. One son is serving in the Navy.

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