A Place of Honor Remembering the Past

A Place of Honor

Remembering the Past

Ellen Keaton

The Ashland Beacon

Last Friday, a long-held dream became a reality with the dedication of a wall honoring the men and women from Boyd County who served in WWII. Located at the corner of 17th Street and Carter Avenue, the wall stands as a solemn reminder of those who courageously left their homes to answer the call to serve their country.

This project, initiated by the Rotary Club of Ashland, has captured the imagination of citizens from all walks of life. The wall that now stands has taken nearly a decade of dedication and planning by many individuals to bring to life. Cheryl Spriggs, project chair, said, “The first fund raising event for the wall took place in 2015 and at that time we had about 35 veterans that had served in the war present.” Fundraising continued for several years, and another event was being planned—until the COVID epidemic sidelined things for a while.

Another challenge the group faced was finding a permanent home for the wall, until the City of Ashland purchased the parking garage along with the adjoining parcel of land. According to Spriggs, the original idea was to possibly place it on the riverfront. “I was presented the idea of the location where it is now. At first in my mind, I couldn’t imagine it, but when I drove down and saw it…it was perfect because it has the natural sweep of the wall design.”

The design is inspired by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, though not as tall. The wall features eight panels—two groups of four—bearing the names of 6,175 WWII heroes, with names inscribed on both sides. Each panel includes a ghost image of an iconic WWII battle scene, visible from a distance. As visitors approach, the individual names become more prominent. The only color on the panels are the gold stars next to the names of those who gave their lives during the war.

Flags representing each branch of the military, along with the American flag and a POW flag, will proudly fly over the monument. A walking path allows visitors to view both sides of the wall and search for the names of relatives and friends. A brick bench provides a place for reflection and remembrance.

From the start, countless people have been eager to volunteer their time and talents to bring this vision to life. Spriggs recognized that even with the necessary funding, it would take many skilled individuals to complete the project. “I believe God puts people in front us when we need them….and that is exactly what happened!” Labor unions, carpenters, bricklayers, and concrete installers all volunteered their services free of charge. WB Fosson & Sons provided a project manager, Jeremiah Adkins, who, according to Spriggs, “was a God send and invaluable to the project.” Prime Engineering developed the plans, the City of Ashland donated the land, Young Signs contributed their expertise, a local artist created the renderings, a landscape designer offered her services, and an electrical engineer designed the full electrical layout for the site.

Local service clubs, businesses, and countless individuals contributed financially, determined to help turn the dream into a lasting tribute. Spriggs added, “Now that the wall is complete, we will have money left over and placed in a fund... a foundation for the Tri-State, and people can continue to donate money for the maintenance of the wall. It has been designed to last and always be there to honor our heroes.”

Winston Churchill once said, “A nation that forgets it’s past has no future.” As the generation who fought so bravely in WWII fades away, it is more important than ever to share their stories of courage with future generations. This monument is not just a wall—it is a place where families can bring their grandchildren and great-grandchildren to see the names, remember the sacrifices, and understand the price of the freedom we enjoy today.