Today on EKU’s campus, the annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony took place. The brisk fall air was not enough to keep WBON-TV’s Austin Hanks and a crowd from coming out for the ceremonies and unveiling of a new statue. Early at 8:30, a roll call tribute took place to name over 1,000 Vietnam Veterans from Kentucky that died in the line of duty.
The ceremony was led by Vietnam Veterans, as Dr. George Herring from the UK history Department took to the stage first to introduce the keynote speaker Michael Archer. Archer served in the Vietnam war as a marine and went on to write a personal account of his time overseas as well as paid tribute to a friend who died a mysterious death during the war.
President of EKU Michael Benson then stepped to the podium to unveil a $15,000 Fallen Cross Sculpture, which is meant to emphasize those who died because of their service, but not necessarily on the battlefield. The statue will stand at memorial plaza near the Powell building as a tribute to all those who served our country. Tears were shed as family members and friends draped dogtags of fallen soldiers on the newly unveiled memorial.
WBON-TV thanks all for their service to our country this Veterans Day.
