LOUISVILLE (Aug. XX, 2001)—On Monday, November 12 a lone soldier will rise on the Jefferson County Courthouse lawn in downtown Louisville. The bronze soldier is the crowning feature of the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial honoring the Commonwealth’s 56 “bravest of the brave” who have received the Medal of Honor. It is the only memorial in Kentucky—and the only state memorial of its kind in the U.S.—honoring Medal of Honor recipients.
The Medal of Honor Remains America’s Highest Award
Awarded by Congress, the Medal of Honor is America’s highest award for combat valor, according to U.S. Army Col. (Retired) Larry L. Arnett, an author and military historian. “The armed forces have reserved the honor solely for the bravest of the brave,” said Arnett. “It is the truest symbol of American heroism in our society.”
Of the millions of U.S. military personnel, only 3,436 have received the total of 3,455 medals presented (19 individuals received two medals).
The memorial honors recipients who are Kentucky natives and those born outside of the U.S. who entered military service in Kentucky. The list of Kentucky recipients, which appears on the memorial, was researched and compiled by Arnett and Kentucky Military History Museum Curator Bill Bright.
Recipient’s Courageous Spirit Captured by Sculptor
A listing of Kentucky’s Medal of Honor recipients will be displayed on the monument’s four-foot limestone base overlaid with granite veneer. A six-foot bronze cast statue, depicting Army Sgt. John C. Squires in full battle gear, is the memorial’s focal point. Squires, a Louisville native, was the first Kentuckian to be awarded the medal in World War II. At the time, he was the youngest soldier to receive the medal.
The Kentucky Memorial was conceptualized and sculpted by Doyle Glass, a Midland, Texas native transplanted in Louisville. Inspired by the film “Saving Private Ryan,” Glass researched Kentuckians who had received the Medal of Honor. After reading Squires’ Medal of Honor citation and meeting Squires’ family, he created a prototype statue from which the memorial was made. “I wanted to capture the courageous spirit of all Kentucky Medal of Honor recipients at the moment their medal was earned,” says Glass, “I placed a great importance on historical accuracy of the uniform and accouterments.”
Comm. Russ Maple Aids In Fundraising
Glass knew it would take more than a concept and prototype statue to create a memorial that conveyed the gallantry and heroism of Kentuckians who had received the Medal of Honor. It was going to take about $75,000—and someone who understood the significance of the medal that could find a suitable site for a permanent memorial.
In late 2000, Jefferson County A District Commissioner Russ Maple, who served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, volunteered to chair the memorial’s fundraising. “The goal was to create a fitting memorial that honors Kentucky’s service men and women who risked—and sometimes gave—their lives in service to our county,” Maple said.
To collect funds, Maple set up a non-profit account at a Louisville bank and secured a location for the memorial on the Jefferson County Courthouse’s lawn. With Maple’s involvement, the memorial project picked up momentum, according to Glass. “Russ not only chaired the fundraising, he also assembled a team of historians, craftsmen, architects, planners—and even the National Guard—to make the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial a reality,” Glass said.
In addition to Arnett and Bright, who confirmed and finalized the list of Kentucky Medal of Honor recipients, and Glass, the memorial committee includes: Eric Anderson, an architect with Jefferson County Facilities Management; Jep Bright of Bright Foundry; Brian Duffy, editor of Kentucky VFW News; Terry Joy of Muldoon Memorials, which donated the monument’s base; Anne Monell of The Community Foundation of Louisville where the memorial’s tax-deductible fund is established; and Kentucky National Guard Maj. Ron Turner.
Memorial Revealed at Dedication Ceremony
Of the Commonwealth’s 56 recipients, all seven of those still living are invited to an unveiling as Maple’s special guests. Recipients’ family members—including Squires’ relatives—will join veterans groups from around the state to dedicate the memorial. The dedication and unveiling ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on November 12, the Monday following Veteran’s Day. Arnett will deliver the dedication address and the Kentucky National Guard is providing a military band, arranging for a fly-over formation and preparing other honors appropriate for Medal of Honor recipients.
“The dedication of the Kentuckians who defied danger in combat cannot be overstated,” Maple said. “Thanks to them, our nation and our Commonwealth enjoy freedoms and opportunities we otherwise might not have. We are proud to honor their service with the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial.”* * *
