JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) – Dozens of the nation’s finest gathered at the Camp Nelson National Cemetery Saturday afternoon, for the dedication of a monument honoring the men and women who served during the Vietnam War.
With headstones of their fallen comrades behind them, veterans unveiled the fourth monument in Flagpole Plaza.
“There’s a large number of Kentuckians who served and never came home from Vietnam…and that’s a tribute to them….and it’s also a tribute to this living veterans who, 50 years later are getting the recognition that they deserve,” said Mark Roland with the Veteran’s Committee serving Camp Nelson.
“I just found out about this this morning, hopped on a motorcycle and here we are,” said Vietnam Veteran Roy Browning.
A day like this is still deeply touching to Browning, a Purple Heart recipient, and a far departure from how he was treated when he returned from serving overseas in 1968.
“I was spit on, I had ashtrays thrown at me, I had books thrown at me…newspapers…phone books,” said Browning.
He says Saturday is a testament to how those attitudes have evolved.
“Fortunately, as a nation and as a people, we’ve moved beyond that and finally come to realize the sacrifice that those people made,” said Browning.
