COLUMBUS - Efforts are continuing to honor a Columbus man who passed away during the March flooding.

50-year-old James Wilke died on March 14th after attempting to rescue a stranded driver near his farm in Platte County. Wilke attempted to drive a tractor over a bridge on Monastery Road to reach the motorist, and the bridge collapsed into Shell Creek.

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry wrote a letter to President Donald Trump in April requesting that Wilke be awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian award. During a town hall in Columbus on Friday, Fortenberry gave an update to residents on the efforts, saying that he recently brought the issue up to the White House Chief of Staff.

"I'm trying to compel the White House to understand the trauma of what we've gone through, and how James Wilke's sacrifice wasn't motivated by anything other than duty, and being willing to give his own life for someone caught in the flood," Fortenberry said. "Not only is it deeply meaningful for the community here, but it does capture the fullness of the character of who we are as Nebraskans, because so many people came out to try and help their neighbors, and do extraordinary things in the midst of this flood, but for us to be able to potentially honor Mr. Wilke, I just think that if we can get this in front of the President, I'm hopeful that he'll say yes."

The Presidential Citizens Medal is awarded to someone who has performed exemplary deeds or services for his or her country or fellow citizens, and an online petition to award Wilke with the distinction currently has over 32,000 signatures.