Throwback Thursday: Memorial Day

AS WE APPROACH MEMORIAL DAY,  THROWBACK THURSDAY IS
DEDICATED TO OUR UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. ACCORDING TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, MEMORIAL DAY WAS ESTABLISHED AS A
NATIONAL HOLIDAY WITH AN ACT OF CONGRESS IN 1971. THIS IS A DAY TO
REMEMBER THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT US. IN THE
SPIRIT OF REMEMBRANCE, THERE ARE A FEW BOWLING GREEN PLACES
COMMEMORATING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

IN DOWNTOWN BOWLING GREEN, THE COURTYARD NEXT TO THE WARREN COUNTY
COURTHOUSE IS HOME TO A VETERANS MEMORIAL STATUE AND COMMEMORATIVE
BRICKS. IN 2004, THIS VETERANS MEMORIAL SCULPTURE AND SPACE WERE ERECTED
AND DEDICATED BY WARREN COUNTY FISCAL COURT. MEN AND WOMEN FROM ALL
OF OUR ARMED FORCES ARE THANKED FOR DEFENDING OUR FREEDOM HERE.

THE LARGEST VETERAN CEMETERY IN BOWLING GREEN IS ON FAIRVIEW. THE ARMED
FORCES GRAVESTONES ARE MARKED AS SUCH, AND FLAGS ARE PLACED ON THE
STONES EVERY YEAR FOR MEMORIAL DAY. IN THE BACK OF THE CEMETERY, THERE
ARE MORE OF THESE STONES, ALONG WITH A COUPLE LARGER MONUMENTS

DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES. A LARGE REPLICA OF THE EIFFEL
TOWER, WHICH ONCE STOOD IN THE CENTER OF FOUNTAIN SQUARE AND WAS
MOVED TO THIS LOCATION IN 1976, STANDS HERE. AMERICAN LEGION POST 23, LED
BY COMMANDER ROGER MILLER AND 1ST VICE CHARLIE BUSH, DONATED THE
MONUMENT BENEATH THE TOWER. IT HONORS THE NAMES OF 13 WWI SOLDIERS, 82
WWII SOLDIERS, 8 KOREAN WAR SOLDIERS, AND 22 VIETNAM SOLDIERS FROM
WARREN COUNTY.

THE SPACE IS ALSO HOME TO MONUMENTS FROM THE GOLD STAR MOTHERS OF
WARREN COUNTY AND THE BOWLING GREEN WARREN COUNTY JAYCEES. MEMORIAL
BRICKS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THIS FAIRVIEW CEMETERY PLAZA.

WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO OUR ARMED FORCES AND ALL WHO GAVE SUCH GREAT
SACRIFICES TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS.