Barren County hosts Memorial Day ceremony at Glasgow Municipal Cemetery
GLASGOW, Ky. – At Glasgow Municipal Cemetery, the community gathers on Memorial Day to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country.
“We honor the brave men and women who sacrificed to serve our nation. They answered the call, leaving behind their loved ones, their dreams and their futures so that we might live in freedom and security. Their courage, dedication and unwavering commitment to the ideals of liberty are the very bedrock of our republic,” says Matt Mutter with the Barren County Veterans Association.
This year’s ceremony featured 1st Lieutenant Cody Edwards, a Kentucky State Police trooper who is part of the 623rd Field Artillery Regiment, who remembered those from his troop.
“There are three from my unit, the first of 623rd Field Artillery Regiment who have been killed in action during the War on Terror. I did not serve with these men, they were before my time… but I am familiar with them all the same. Sergeant Jonathan Hughes, Sergeant Eric Toth, Sergeant Ryan Montgomery. They were far from perfect, but they were the best of us. They must always be celebrated; every last one of them,” 1st Lt. Edwards says.
Mayor Henry Royse also spoke, honoring the history of Memorial Day and its importance.
“This is the 157th day that we have set aside, following the tragedy of the Civil War, to observe Decoration Day, which is now known as Memorial Day because after almost 700,000 Americans died fighting each other in the Civil War, we needed some healing,” Royse says.
1st Lt. Edwards also stresses the importance of visiting with your local veterans groups, and remembering those we’ve lost over the years.
“We need to do that more… and I would encourage others to do that as well… get out in your hometowns, meet with veterans and go to these cemeteries and honor their sacrifice… look at the headstones, look at the service makers, and just show some respect. Show some respect and take some time to do that,” he says.
