United States Senator Joni Ernst paid a visit to the Perry Lutheran Homes Willis Avenue Campus Friday morning to deliver and present service medals to two area veterans, including a PLH resident.

Ernst, a military veteran herself, was pleased to meet and present medals to Hilario “Larry” Dominquez, who lives at the Willis Avenue Campus and served in the Vietnam War, and Paul Scott, who’s from Panora and served in World War II. Both men were awarded medals that Ernst said were long overdue, and they were happy to receive them. Ernst addressed the friends and family members of the veterans in attendance, which included many other PLH residents, and discussed the honorees’ service histories.

Scott also shared some tales of his time in the war, and Dominquez’s daughter recounted the story of the day her father returned from Vietnam and she met him for the first time. It was Larry who stole the show, however, as he left the audience with these words: “My language is small, but I love everyone.” Both families, as well as the Perry Lutheran Homes staff, were then able to get some photos with the senator.