Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc.
KYNG Memorial Fund, Inc.
PO Box 5466
Frankfort, KY 40602-5466
info
Press Releases
Kentucky National Guard Memorial Seeking Names
20 May 2009
FRANKFORT, KY — The Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund is asking anyone who knows of a Guardsman who perished in the line of duty who is not listed below to please contact them so they can be added to the plans for the memorial.
Funds are being raised now to construct a memorial to be located at the entrance to Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort. The memorial will pay tribute to who perished and will also honor and recognize all those who have served. The memorial will focus on the modern period which began on March 19, 1912 when the Kentucky State Guard officially became the Kentucky National Guard.
“We want to make sure twenty years or even a hundred years from now no one will have forgotten these Kentucky Guardsmen," said Memorial Fund Chairman John Trowbridge. "They deserve to be remembered for their dedication and sacrifice.”
Anyone who would like to learn more about the effort, offer assistance or to make a donation are urged to contact the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc. at PO Box 5466, Frankfort, KY 40602 or e-mail at info@kyngmemorial.com or on the web at www.kyngmemorial.com .
Below is a list of those who have been identified already for inclusion on the Kentucky National Guard Memorial:— 30 —Salute Armed Forces Day by thanking a Kentucky Guardsman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12 May 2009
FRANKFORT, KY — This Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, 2009, salute the Armed Forces by thanking a Kentucky Army or Air National Guard member for their service.
John M. Trowbridge, Chairman Cell 502-600-1606
Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc.
Web: www.kyngmemorial.com
E-mail: info@kyngmemorial.com
Salute Armed Forces Day by thanking a Kentucky Guardsman
Armed Forces Day was championed by President Harry S. Truman who led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense. You can learn more about Armed Forces Day at Defense Link http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/
The Kentucky National Guard Memorial
Another great way to salute Armed Forces Day in Kentucky is support the Kentucky National Guard Memorial. Funds are being raised now to construct a memorial to be located at the entrance to Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort.
The memorial will pay tribute to who perished and will also honor and recognize all those who have served. The memorial will focus on the modern period which began on March 19, 1912 when the Kentucky State Guard officially became the Kentucky National Guard.
“Take as an example, Private Manley Vaughan of Troop C, 53rd Machine Gun Squadron, Cavalry, Louisa, Kentucky, who was killed nearly eighty-eight years ago this month," said Memorial Fund Chairman John Trowbridge.
Kentucky Guardsmen were on state active duty along the Kentucky – West Virginia during a coal strike on May 25, 1921. When the West Virginia State Police reported shots fired on the Kentucky shore of the Tug River the Kentucky Guard troops were sent to end the disturbance.
Vaughan and seven other Soldiers crossed the river near Nolan, West Virginia where they joined West Virginia State Police in confronting a group of suspects. During a search weapons, Vaughan and a state trooper were both shot in the back of the head without warning and killed.“We want to make sure twenty years or even a hundred years from now no one will have forgotten these Kentucky Guardsmen," Trowbridge added. "Pvt. Vaughan and all those who have perished in the name of their nation and the commonwealth deserve better."
Anyone who would like to learn more about the effort, offer assistance or to make a donation are urged to contact the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc. at PO Box 5466, Frankfort, KY 40602 or e-mail at info@kyngmemorial.com or on the web at www.kyngmemorial.com .
— 30 —Memorial to Kentucky National Guard Planned — Fundraising Underway Now
24 April 2009
For more information:
John M. Trowbridge 502-600-1606
Jason M. LeMay 502-330-6358
Memorial to Kentucky National Guard Planned — Fundraising Underway Now
FRANKFORT, KY — A group of friends and former members of the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard (KYNG) have come together to raise money to design, build and maintain a memorial to all those who have served as citizen-soldiers and especially those who perished in the line of duty.
The Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc. was created in October 2008 and was granted tax exempt status as a public charity 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service in February 2009. All donations to the Memorial Fund are tax exempt as allowed by law.
Kentucky National Guard Memorial Design
The memorial will be built at the entrance to Boone National Guard Center, in Frankfort. The memorial will consist of a plaza with a bronze statue of Daniel Boone prominently placed on a pedestal in the form of an outcropping of Kentucky limestone. Water will flow from the outcropping into a small reflecting pool below. Behind the statue and plaza will be an upright granite wall in the shape of Kentucky.
The plaza will also contain panels depicting the history of the Kentucky Guard. There will be panels featuring the names of those members of the Kentucky Guard who have died in the line of duty. At this time 88 names have been identified but more research will be required, especially for the World War I and World War II periods. The memorial will focus on the modern KYNG beginning with March 1912 when the state guard became the Kentucky National Guard.
“Take as an example, Sgt. Thomas J. Brown of Madisonville” said Memorial Fund Chairman John Trowbridge. “He drowned on January 23, 1937 at the age of 34 while on state active duty in Hopkins County. Brown's boat lost its stern from the vibrations of the outboard motor and sank almost immediately. He was last seen clinging to the debris in nine-foot deep icy flood waters before he sank from sight. Today, except for once sentence in a 1939 book, his name has also disappeared.
“We want to make sure twenty years or even a hundred years from now, no one will have forgotten these Kentucky Guardsmen," Trowbridge added. "Sgt. Brown and all those who have perished in the name of their nation and the commonwealth deserve better."
Anyone who would like to learn more about the effort, offer assistance or to make a donation are urged to contact the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc. at PO Box 5466, Frankfort, KY 40602 or e-mail at info@kyngmemorial.com or on the web at www.kyngmemorial.com .— 30 —
KYNG Memorial Fund, Inc.
PO Box 5466
Frankfort, KY 40602-5466
info
