American Legion Memorial Day ceremony held at Cone Funeral Home

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, a day to honor the fallen heroes who fought and died for our country.

The American Legion Post 23 holds a Memorial Day ceremony each year, but due to COVID-19, the ceremony this year, it was done a little differently.

Cone Funeral Home, a veteran-owned funeral home in Bowling Green holding an outdoor ceremony.

The post commander, Malcolm Cherry, honored to speak about those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.

“There is a bond between Veterans, and it doesn’t matter how far back it goes, Revolutionary War, it doesn’t matter. They served our country and they paid the ultimate sacrifice… and we want to honor all of our fallen brothers and sisters,” said Cherry.

Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower, a Marine veteran, said a few words at the ceremony to honor the fallen and their families.

“Our Union of states and love for our fellow soldier, Marine, Airmen, Seaman, and the American is what today is about,” said Hightower.

“So many of these families have sacrificed just as their loved one has sacrifices. Having to go on without having a father or a son or a daughter, that’s very difficult. So, today is an opportunity for us as a nation to show our gratitude not only for those lives but to honor that for those families going forward,” said Hightower.

During the ceremony, a memorial stone was dedicated to a local veteran, Leroy M. Bowman, suffering from cancer due to a toxic chemical used during the Vietnam War.

“We still have veterans dying every day from Vietnam from being exposed to the Agent Orange,” said Cherry.

The ceremony ended with the playing of “Taps” to honor all of the fallen heroes.