A building dedicated to Nebraska's veterans was once thriving. Opening back in 1929, the Nebraska City Veterans Memorial Building used to always have something going on, whether it be meetings, dances or just a game of basketball.
But now, its been empty for the past 10 years. The windows are worn and the inside has leaky roofs and holes in the ceiling, but thanks to one passionate resident, the building may one day be bustling again.
Ted Beilman, who grew up in the small town, got to work. First, he petitioned to get the building on the National Register of Historical Places. Then, he started a non-profit for the building.
He has since seen his neighbors, volunteers, Blue Star mothers, a cleaning company and local middle school students chip into help.
There's still a long way to go, though, the building needs $4 million worth of repairs and renovations. However, the talk is no longer about how the Veterans Memorial Center is falling apart, it's about what it could it look like in the future.
