'It's been an honor to serve.' Lexington marks Veterans Day with new memorial garden

Nov. 11—In honor of Veterans Day, the city of Lexington — with help from the Kentucky and Transylvania chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution — dedicated a new garden to commemorate the centennial of the unveiling of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

The new "Never Forget" garden is located near the Gold Star Memorial at the entrance of Veterans Park off of Southpoint Drive.

It was dedicated at a special ceremony Thursday.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was erected after World War I to honor the sacrifices of soldiers whose remains were never identified. The four soldiers in the monument have remained unknown for 100 years, said Brig. Gen. Benjamin Adams, the keynote speaker at Thursday's ceremony.

The story behind how those unidentified soldiers got to Arlington Cemeteryhas largely not been told but it's a story about honor, an often overused word, Adams said.

The four soldiers picked from one of several cemeteries were U.S. Armed forces buried in France after World War I.

The four caskets were transported back on an older ship that was not meant for the rough Atlantic sea. The soldiers were told not to let the caskets tip and not to let a drop of water on the ship.

Adding to the drama: Two hurricanes churned in the Atlantic.

The soldiers lashed the caskets to the ship and wrapped and double-wrapped the coffins in tarps as rough seas and the storms battered the ship. Throughout the storms, the men frequently checked the coffins to make sure they were level and dry, he said. The men tied themselves to the ship so they wouldn't go overboard as they safeguarded the unknown soldiers. The four unknown soldiers arrived in Virginia safe.

"The fact that the mission succeeded seems to be a mere footnote in some historical journal," Adams said. " But honor is like that."

There have been countless attempts to explain what honor is. But honor is not just on a battlefield; it's the accomplishment of "every shared mission," Adams said.

"It's been an honor to serve our great nation," Adams said. "It's been one of my highest honors to serve each soldier, sailor, airmen and Marine."

Mayor Linda Gorton said Veterans Day is special and personal to her. Gorton's husband, Charlie Gorton, is a retired major general in the Army. Her son, Clay, who is a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, previously served in the Old Guard, whose many duties include maintaining a 24-hour vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Her son-in-law, Peter Kasarskis, is a U.S. Air Force pilot.

Gorton said Veterans Day is about remembering those who were lost and soldiers who have returned.

"It is so important that we support those who have returned," Gorton said. "And the families who have been with them all along the way."

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman Susan Lamb, who first proposed the Veterans Day Celebration at Veterans Park and has hosted and organized it for several years, thanked the many members of the Daughters of the American Revolution who worked for more than a year on the new "Never Forget" garden. Lamb also thanked the large crowd for attending Thursday's ceremony. Last year's in-person ceremony was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was changed to a virtual event.

"it's just so great to have all of us come together and celebrate and honor those who have served," Lamb said.

This story was originally published November 11, 20213:35 PM.

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