If all the certificates that John Hark has received during his life were hung up, he would have little wall space left in his Hannibal home. While most of them have been filed away, Hannibal’s emergency management director admits that he will find wall space for the Congressional Medal of Merit award, which he was nominated for by then-Congressman Kenny Hulshof in recognition of Hark’s efforts during the 2008 flood.
While the honor arrived Hark late last year, news of it only surfaced Tuesday night when City Manager Jeff LaGarce informed the members of the Hannibal City Council of the tribute.
“He definitely earned it,” said LaGarce.
The Medal of Merit, which also is known as the Medal for Merit, was established in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor civilian citizens of the United States and their allies for their exceptional service during World War II. The award is now used by members of Congress to recognize the achievements of their individual constituents.
Hark admits he wasn’t sure what the award was when initially contacted about it by a member of Hulshof’s staff.
“I absolutely had no idea,” said with a laugh. “In fact, when Scott Callicott called me about it I wasn’t even sure what he was talking about. We were still busy with the federal people, the SEMA people and everybody after the September rains. I said, ‘That’s great Scott.’ I had no idea what it was. I just knew something was forthcoming.”
While Hark showed the certificate to LaGarce, he didn’t even mention it to his brother, Mayor Roy Hark.
“I do my job. I always deep down in my heart appreciate some sort of recognition, a thank you, but I guess it’s not something that I just go around and say, ‘Hey, look at me,’” he said.
Like many flood fighters last year, Hark experienced many long days and short nights.
“It could run anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day,” said Hark of the length of a typical work day during the flood. “You go home and if you can get even four or five hours of sleep, it’s a very restless sleep. I just can’t lay my head down on a pillow and say, ‘Well everything is going to be fine until morning and then we’ll start worrying about it then.’ You don’t turn it off until it’s over.”
Hark, who was around during the record-setting flood of ‘93, watched with concern as 2008 weather patterns began following a pattern similar to what had developed 15 years earlier.
“When we got into June it became quite obvious that we could have some major problems here and we did, but we were able to overcome them,” he said.
What is the flood outlook for ‘09 along the upper half of the Mississippi River?
“We’ll be ready for it, whatever it is. That’s our outlook my friend,” Hark said with a chuckle. “Are we going to exceed ‘93? Are we going to exceed 2008? Will we see 35 feet or whatever some day? I have no idea. We’re going to try to be ready to respond and do whatever we have to do to protect Hannibal.”
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If all the certificates that John Hark has received during his life were hung up, he would have little wall space left in his Hannibal home. While most of them have been filed away, Hannibal’s emergency management director admits that he will find wall space for the Congressional Medal of Merit award, which he was nominated for by then-Congressman Kenny Hulshof in recognition of Hark’s efforts during the 2008 flood.
While the honor arrived Hark late last year, news of it only surfaced Tuesday night when City Manager Jeff LaGarce informed the members of the Hannibal City Council of the tribute.
“He definitely earned it,” said LaGarce.
The Medal of Merit, which also is known as the Medal for Merit, was established in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor civilian citizens of the United States and their allies for their exceptional service during World War II. The award is now used by members of Congress to recognize the achievements of their individual constituents.
Hark admits he wasn’t sure what the award was when initially contacted about it by a member of Hulshof’s staff.
“I absolutely had no idea,” said with a laugh. “In fact, when Scott Callicott called me about it I wasn’t even sure what he was talking about. We were still busy with the federal people, the SEMA people and everybody after the September rains. I said, ‘That’s great Scott.’ I had no idea what it was. I just knew something was forthcoming.”
While Hark showed the certificate to LaGarce, he didn’t even mention it to his brother, Mayor Roy Hark.
“I do my job. I always deep down in my heart appreciate some sort of recognition, a thank you, but I guess it’s not something that I just go around and say, ‘Hey, look at me,’” he said.
Like many flood fighters last year, Hark experienced many long days and short nights.
“It could run anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day,” said Hark of the length of a typical work day during the flood. “You go home and if you can get even four or five hours of sleep, it’s a very restless sleep. I just can’t lay my head down on a pillow and say, ‘Well everything is going to be fine until morning and then we’ll start worrying about it then.’ You don’t turn it off until it’s over.”
Hark, who was around during the record-setting flood of ‘93, watched with concern as 2008 weather patterns began following a pattern similar to what had developed 15 years earlier.
“When we got into June it became quite obvious that we could have some major problems here and we did, but we were able to overcome them,” he said.
What is the flood outlook for ‘09 along the upper half of the Mississippi River?
“We’ll be ready for it, whatever it is. That’s our outlook my friend,” Hark said with a chuckle. “Are we going to exceed ‘93? Are we going to exceed 2008? Will we see 35 feet or whatever some day? I have no idea. We’re going to try to be ready to respond and do whatever we have to do to protect Hannibal.”
