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November 5, 2009

A historical event is on its way

Carl Keith Greene

Veterans’ Day is coming and the Kentucky Historical Society is marking the state’s military history with its Kentucky Military Treasures exhibit.

The exhibit debuted at the Kentucky State Fair and speaks of the individual experiences of Kentuckians during the nation’s wars.

An online image of the exhibit can be found at the historical society’s Web site at www.ky.history.gov.

One of the problems in setting up the exhibit, says the Kentucky Historical Society’s Chronicle, was the large extent of the collection.

The KHS curators looked for stories that could be told by using artifacts from the huge collection.

The intent of the nine stories told both online and at the physical exhibit is to help Kentuckians understand the war experience of Kentucky men and women.

Both large and small artifacts were assembled including boots removed from the feet of Vietnam War soldier Marcus Raymond Davis at his 1970 death.

Another artifact is a letter written by John Rodman in 1942 while he served in the Philippine Islands. The letter was shipped in a mailbag that was carried by a submarine, then a freighter that was torpedoed. The mailbag was found floating in the ocean and picked up.

The letter was delivered to his mother’s home six months after it was sent.

A gallery exhibition will open in the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort on Veterans’ Day.

About 100 artifacts will be displayed and two “In Their Own Words” stations will be available for visitors to become familiar with military men and women from Kentucky who fought in the War of 1812 through the Global War on Terror.

Frankfort has been a place that I’ve longed to often visit since I was introduced to its historical importance when I was maybe 10 years old.

On a vacation trip to visit an aunt and uncle in Louisville, my parents and I stopped in Frankfort on the way up.

There we saw the statue of Gov. William Goebel, then at the foot of the steps leading up to the current Capitol building. Now it is in the lawn of the Old Capitol where Goebel was fatally shot during the end of the 19th Century as a result of his politics.

At least one man from this area, Caleb Powers of Knox County, was charged with the assassination. Eventually after several trials, he was freed and went on to be a U.S. Representative from this area.

The Old Capitol was a treasure trove of “stuff.” In it were old military uniforms, guns, keepsakes, historical clothing, and even a scale model of what Fort Boonesboro might have looked like in Daniel Boone’s day.

I was totally fascinated by it and my next trip was the spring trip taken by my eighth grade class at London Grade School.

Frankly, I’m fascinated with Kentucky history.

It has gotten into my blood, particularly the history of this area — especially London and Laurel County.

Those two entities are looking at the 185th anniversary of their establishment.

Establishment of Laurel County was allowed by the legislature in December 1825 and the county was actually organized in March 1826. London was established the next day.

So in 2010 and 2011, there will be big doings in celebration of the long life of London and Laurel County.

It’s time to be thinking about what will happen during that time and London-Laurel Countians will bring it about.

Any suggestions for themes, events or other things to do would be welcomed. Send an email to: cvgreene@yahoo.com.

We may not use all the suggestions, but we’ll certainly give them a good examination and try to make the celebration quite a celebration.

Carl Keith Greene is a writer for the Times-Tribune. He can be reached at cgreene@thetimestribune.com

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