Maintenance Airman, family recognized with community award Published Oct. 26, 2015 By Delanie Stafford 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- An Offutt Airman and his family were recently recognized by the city of Plattsmouth, Neb. with the 2015 Harvest Military Family Award. The award was presented Sept. 12 to Staff Sgt. Luke Hinz, who is assigned to the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, his wife Chelsea and their five-month old son Wyatt during the annual Fall Harvest Parade in Plattsmouth. The award recognizes military families that demonstrate outstanding community service. "I did 'Big Brothers Big Sisters' for a while and I've been on the volunteer fire department for three years," said Staff Sgt. Hinz. Hinz is also actively involved with Ducks Unlimited and is an advocate for project habitat that supports migrating waterfowl. When Hinz isn't volunteering, he performs aircraft maintenance as a crew chief on the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center. He has been assigned to Offutt for the past six-years and is originally from Washington state. Hinz met his wife, a Plattsmouth native, after moving there following his assignment to Offutt. He surprised her during last year's Harvest Festival Parade when he stepped off of a fire truck and proposed. The Plattsmouth Harvest Festival, which was started 84 years ago, is believed to be the longest standing harvest festival in Nebraska. The Military Family Award is just one of many events that take place during the four-day festival. "I didn't even know they had [the award] so I was surprised," Hinz said. "It's a pretty big honor."