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    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

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    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

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    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

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    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

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    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

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    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Trending Tags

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    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

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    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

  • Lifestyle
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    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

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Henderson native and Air Force vet Jordan says the best way to honor those who fought and died is ‘to live our very best life’

Vince Tweddell by Vince Tweddell
May 24, 2025
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Henderson native and Air Force vet Jordan says the best way to honor those who fought and died is ‘to live our very best life’

Justin Jordan

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Henderson native Justin Jordan’s theme for the speech he’s scheduled to give at the Henderson Veterans Memorial Foundation’s annual Memorial Day service is that those still here owe it to those who served and died “to live our very best life.”

“It’s for those who didn’t make it home,” he told the Hendersonian Thursday via phone from his home in Bandera, Texas. “We’re here to honor them.”

He said he’ll also spend some time talking about some past Henderson military men and women and throw in a bit about his early life growing up in Henderson.  But the main focus will be how those still alive can pay it forward and summon every ounce of joy as a way to honor those military men and women who’ve died.

Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in Central Park. In case of inclement weather, Jordan will give his speech and answer questions on WSON.

Jordan now works as special operations director for Warriors Heart, a national organization that works with military, veterans and first responders suffering from chemical dependency and psychological injuries.

“I’ve been on the front lines of the war at home for the last eight years,” he said.

According to notes about him that will be included in the program for Monday’s service, Jordan is a U.S. Air Force veteran with 20 years of service and four deployments. But his most challenging work was as a non-commissioned officer in charge of base mortuary affairs, where “he ensured service members were honored with dignity and respect.”

It was in this role that Jordan said he saw service members who had drowned, been murdered and more, and all the while he had to remain stoic and professional when dealing with family members.

In 2009, Jordan was diagnosed with PTSD. He started going to therapy sessions and was surprised to experience the effect his stories had on other service members who were in sessions with him. He said he didn’t feel deserving to be there with them because many had been in combat and experienced that firsthand. He, on the other hand, was taking care of those who’d died in the mortuary.

Still, though, those in therapy were moved, and a therapist encouraged him to write his stories down as further therapy. He did. It led to his book, “And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO.” He said he wrote the book in 30 days.

It was published in 2012, and it’s still in print. Though Jordan said he’s not got rich off it—he said he gets a $7 royalty check every so often in the mail—he’s proud that his book has helped thousands and thousands of veterans and others with PTSD.

Jordan also spoke at the 2018 Veterans Day service at South Middle School, an occasion which was especially poignant because his father David started the Veterans Day service at the school when he was principal of then-South Junior High School. His mother Nancy was also a longtime educator in the local school system.

Jordan left Henderson when he was 19 after enlisting in the Air Force. He said he had tried school at Henderson Community College, but wasn’t a particularly good student, and when he left, he was ready to serve his country and see the world.

But Henderson, he said, is still in his heart.

“Everything ties back to Henderson,” he said. “We’re a community of service men and women”—and not necessarily military service, but—“service to the community.”

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‘Commit to living a life worthy of their sacrifice’

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell is the founder, publisher and editor of the Hendersonian.

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‘Commit to living a life worthy of their sacrifice’

'Commit to living a life worthy of their sacrifice'

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