Lexington will honor its World War I veterans with a rededication ceremony of a stone monument that has been in storage for several years. The event, marking exactly 100 years since the monument was originally erected, will take place on Monday at 10 a.m. in Veterans Park.
The monument bears the names of 52 Lexington men who died while serving in World War I. Originally placed on November 11, 1924, during a time when it was known as Armistice Day, the marker had been removed from its location by the old Fayette County Courthouse amid renovations and discussions surrounding other controversial statues.
“They have been shoved aside,” said Jack Mills, a member of the Sons of the American Legion involved in organizing the ceremony. “It’s an insult to them for that to be treated that way. They need to be in a place of honor. They need to be remembered. They gave up all of their tomorrows for us.” The monument is especially significant for some service members whose names are not commemorated anywhere else.
The rededication ceremony will feature music, a wreath-laying ceremony, and remarks from key figures including Mayor Linda Gorton, American Legion leadership, and local African American historian Yvonne Giles. The event will also recount the stories of a few of the fallen soldiers, such as Nathan Caulder, who served in France and died in 1919. Caulder’s legacy continues today, with American Legion Post 132 named in his honor the year following his death.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel. This rededication is part of a series of events honoring veterans in Central Kentucky as the community observes Veterans Day.
