The mild temperatures belied the fact that it was mid-August in Kentucky as Veterans gathered at the Lexington National Cemetery to remember the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Kentucky National Cemetery Complex director Patrick Lovett delivers remarks in Lexington.
“We are here today to honor those Veterans from the Greatest Generation who secured our freedoms at such great personal cost,” said Patrick Lovett, director of the Kentucky National Cemetery Complex, a network of eight VA cemeteries throughout the state.
Members of the American Legion’s Man O’ War Post 8 served as the honor guard at the cemetery’s wreath-laying ceremony Friday morning, providing music, a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.
The event fell on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. “At 7 p.m. on Aug. 14, 1945, President Truman announced the surrender of Japan and the effective end of hostilities for most of our military,” Lovett said.
Beginning today, VA national cemeteries across the country will be honoring World War II Veterans as part of the 70th anniversary “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” commemoration. Along with VA, Bugles Across America, the American Battle Monuments Commission, VA’s National Cemetery Administration, the National Parks Service, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and other participating organizations, invite the public to honor the World War II generation by placing wreaths at memorials, cemeteries and other locations around the world during the weekend of Aug. 14-16.
Find information on a Spirit of ’45 event near you on VA’s ceremony listing page.
Below are hotos from the wreath-laying event. (Click on the images to see the full photo.) You can also find more pictures from the Lexington event on Kentucky.com.
[carousel ids=”22288,22286,22283,22282,22279,22296″]
Topics in this story
More Stories
Over the five-year program, more than 14,000 VET TEC beneficiaries completed their program and nearly half have reported finding meaningful employment with an average starting annual salary of $65,000.
VA is calling for applicants for the 2024 Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology grant.
Updated COVID vaccines are available free of charge to Veterans receiving care at VA .
Community Contributor Dick Barton’; trb. Spirit of \’45 is Alive and Thriving in Park Ridge by Honoring Veterans and Remembering the end of World War II.’; trb.
I enlisted June 1946 US Army at the age of 16. (WWII Vet.) I won’t mention how I managed that. Bottom line I remained in service for 6.5 years. Reentered service due to a recall from active reserves. Total Military 26.5 years, and enjoyed every minute of it. Also a vet of Korean and Vietnam wars. At 85 I still am proud to say, God Bless America, and bliss our Troops.
To Mra. Allison. Hicky i have been waiting for an appeal hearing for about 160 days could you please help me with my appeal hearing.. like getting it expedited.. andcould you email me your contact information. I filed my nod backi in 2012 Thankyou very much!!!
I was 15 years old when Japan surrendered, little did I know that 5 years 5 months later I would be in the US Air Force and by the middle of 1951, I would be in England where I would stay for 3 years 1 month, never going to Korea. It is a small world and time does fly. There are some things one never forgets, Dec. 7, 1941, Aug. 14, 1945, June 1950, 9/11, and many others. God bless all of those who gave their all in WWll, Korea and now all the wars, and police actions that are still going on around the world. Bruce.
M dad had enlisted into the Navy and joined the CB’s and believe it he is still alive living in a nursing home in Hurricane Utah.
Dennis
It’s down because guys like me are waiting for my medical record I’ve been waiting almost a year on my 214 wasn’t proper now my medical records. That’s just to open my claims according to th dov I need them such bull shit a viet nam vet