Kentucky Gold Star families gather to remember fallen warriors at National Guard Memorial Day Ceremony

FRANKFORT, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — The Kentucky National Guard memorial bears the names of fallen National Guard soldiers and airmen. The community gathers every Memorial Day to remember these heroes and the sacrifices they made.

It’s a day set aside to remember those who paid it all, with Gold Star families gathering. The Kentucky National Guard Memorial Day ceremony is meant to remind these families that their loved ones’ sacrifices will never be forgotten.

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Lynn Romans is the mother of the late Sgt. Darrin Potter.

“Coming here every year and observing this, seeing the appreciation makes a momma’s heart warm,” Romans said.

A wreath laying at the Kentucky National Guard Monument represented the love for these warriors, with their names etched on the monument and into history. David Graetz is with the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, an organization that works to ensure these stories are told.

“New names are added to it because of the research. We go into looking for the stories from the National Guard soldiers and airmen who have died since 1912,” Graetz said.

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Freedom comes at a cost, but it’s a cost these heroes and many others were willing to pay for the freedom of their loved ones, and the nation. Along with Governor Andy Beshear, Maj. Gen. Haldane (Hal) B. Lamberton Kentucky’s adjutant general, was one of the speakers at the ceremony.

“That’s what drew them to the military and drew them to what they did in the military. For the men and women who are in our military today, a lot of us hear the proverbial thank you for your service. What I would offer, and starting with our Gold Star family members, if you see or know somebody who’s a Gold Star family member, just show appreciation for what their family did,” Lamberton said.

Each name bears a story, and these are stories loved ones like Romans will never forget.

“I like to say that I raised a hero, and I think that all of our loved ones that have died while serving their country, they’re each heroes. They did what was asked of them. They gave their all, and it’s an honor that they served their country,” Romans said.

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