Trigg County Judge-Executive Stan Humphries welcomed the small crowd.
“Today we are pausing to honor our veterans,” Humphries said. “We are memorializing those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
John Ahart gave an invocation and then members of American Legion Post 374 posted the colors.
American Legion member Richard Pauze asked all the veterans present to stand. They introduced themselves and told which wars they served in.
Sandra Myers then recognize the Gold Star Mothers, mothers who have lost their children in war.
“I am always humbled to be in the presence of the Gold Star mothers and the wives who have lost their loved ones,” Myers said.
Myers said that of the more than 3,000 soldiers who have died so far in Iraq, 62 of those were from Kentucky. She said everyone should remember those soldiers, as well as the four Kentucky soldiers who are currently missing in action.
Martha Maxfield read the names of veterans who have died since Memorial Day last year.
“I get an extra heartbeat when I’m standing in front of veterans,” she said.
DAR member Virginia Alexander then introduced the main speaker, William Turner. Turner is an area historian who is known for his research not only in Christian County, where he lives, but also Trigg County. He wrote the recent book “Cerulean Springs and the Springs of Western Kentucky: Images of America.”
Turner paid tribute to the 1.2 million American soldiers he said had died in wars since the founding of the country. America’s freedom has been “bought with a bitter price,” he said. Of the war in Iraq, he said that anyone has right to be opposed to the war, but that the soldiers fighting there now are doing so “because they were called, and we have the God-given responsibility to support them in their duty.”
For the rest of this story, read this week's Cadiz Record.
