MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
11a MON 30 MAY 2011

Americans are invited to join fellow patriotic citizens and Veterans in remembering and saluting those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in military service. Traditionally, multiple generations of families attend their favorite observance ceremony annually to pay respects to men and women who died in military service to the nation. American flags will be placed in front of each above ground white grave marker in the national and state cemeteries.

THE LEXINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
833 West Main Street, Lexington KY 40508 | (859) 255-5522 | www.lexcem.org

The annual observance includes presentation of The Colors, invocation, wreath-laying, remarks by featured speaker COL Steve Parker USAF (Ret.), benediction, harmonica and vocal rendition of Amazing Grace, bugler playing “Taps,” and a 3-volley salute by a uniformed rifle team. Participants include the members of American Legion Man O’ War Post No. 8 and its Ladies Auxiliary.

An Air Force officer for 29 years, retiring as a Colonel, the featured speaker logged over 5,000 hours flying time in five different Air Force aircraft. Col. Parker has combat experience during the Vietnam War, the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Granada, the Persian Gulf War and Bosnia. During his military career he commanded four different Air Force organizations and traveled to 93 countries. In addition to his aviation time, he has over ten years experience working internationally significant issues with NATO, the United Nations and many embassies around the globe.

CAMP NELSON NATIONAL CEMETERY
6980 Danville Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356 | (859) 885-5727

Music, invocation, presentation of The Colors, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, Guest Speaker 1Lt. Robert McWhorter, Detachment Commander, Olive Hill, KYNG, placing of a wreath, benediction, rifle salute, canon salute, Taps, God Bless America. Participants include by the West Jessamine High School Band; Camp Nelson Honor Guard, A Company, 1st Regiment, Camp One; US Army Cadet Corps; Blue Star Mothers of Lexington; Caswell Saufley Honor Guard, American Legion, Post 18, Stanford, KY; Central Kentucky Veterans Committee.

Other Memorial Day events will be conducted across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Here is a partial listing:

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North
Williamstown, KY 41097 | (859) 823-0720
kdva.kvcn@ky.gov

Memorial Day / Carillon Tower Dedication will be held on MON 30 MAY at 1p. Grant County Veterans Honor Guard will present & retire colors and AMVETS Department of KY will place wreaths. The guest speakers will be Governor Steve Beshear of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and President William A. Boettcher of the AMVETS National Service Foundation. Refreshments will be served by Williamstown Woman's Club.

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West
5817 Fort Campbell Blvd., Hopkinsville, KY 42240 | (270) 889-6106 kdva.kvcw@ky.gov

Memorial Day services will be on MON 30 MAY at 11a joined by VFW Post 1913. There will be retiring of the colors and flag as well as a wreath ceremony by VFW Post 1913 and Fort Campbell American Legion Auxiliary Unit 233. The guest speaker will be Attorney J. Michael Foster of Christian County.

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central
2501 North Dixie Boulevard, Radcliff, KY 40160 | 270-351-5115
kdva.kvcc@ky.gov

The Memorial Day ceremony will be at 2p on MON 30 MAY. The keynote speaker will be Command Sergeant Major Green of 1st Brigade (US Army Cadet Command) of Ft. Knox.
Phone: 270-351-5115

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East
100 Veterans Memorial Drive, Greenup Co. KY 41143 | (606) 929-5354
kdva.kvcne@ky.gov

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East in Greenup County will hold its first Memorial Day ceremony on MON 30 MAY from 11a to 1p The keynote speaker will be Retired Lieutenant Colonel Jim Royster and there will be a Wreath Laying Ceremony by the Greenup County High School Junior. ROTC.

Joseph “Eddie” Ballard - Western Kentucky Veterans Center
The Hopkins County Central High School Junior ROTC Cadets will present the Annual Memorial Day program. WKVC Chaplain and Activities Department have plans to remember residents that have passed since last year. The event will be on THU 26 MAY at 1p.

Paul E. Patton - Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center
EKVC will be having a Memorial Day event on Memorial Day, MON 30 MAY at the Veterans Center. The ceremony will start at 2p in front of the building with a Wreath dedication under our flag pole, placed by our oldest resident (97) Eddie Bolden WWII, Guest speaker Hazard Post VFW President Johnny Couch (others TBA). Following the ceremony in the multi-purpose room will be a slide show honoring all of the residents who have passed since last Memorial Day. Refreshments will follow the slide show.

Thomson-Hood Veterans Center
On MON 30 MAY 2011 at 10:30a a Memorial Day Service will be held in the Hunt-Multi-Purpose Room for Thomson-Hood Veterans Center residents, family, guest and staff. The Guest Speaker will be Brother Courtney Harold. The lighting of the Memorial Candles will be lit before the Final Roll Call is read of our Brave Soldiers who have left this world to touch the Face of God.

Florence Government Center
MON 30 May 2011 at 11a, the City of Florence will have its Annual Memorial Day Program. It will be held at the Boone County Veterans Memorial on the campus of the Florence Government Center, where they will unveil the newest monument honoring the POW/MIA soldier and recognize all military personnel. The annual parade is at 10a along Burlington Pike/KY 18.

Rededication Ceremony of the "Gold Star Hero"Memorial Oak Trees
The ceremony will start at 2p SUN 29 MAY at Simon Kenton High School (Independence, KY). Inclement weather will move the ceremony indoors. There will be a reception immediately following.

Independence Kentucky Memorial Day Parade
The parade will be held on MON 30 MAY at 10:30a from Declaration Drive heading north on old KY 17 stopping at the Independence and St. Cecilia cemeteries for a gun salute. The parade ends at the Kenton County Courthouse in Independence, Kentucky with a gun salute in front of the Veterans Memorial there. Immediately after the gun salute there will be words of memory from the porch of the courthouse. The oblation will conclude the Memorial Day Parade and celebration.