Kentucky War Memorial

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Kentucky War Memorial
Frankfort Cemetery Military Memorial, north view.jpg
TypeMilitary Memorial
Location Frankfort, Kentucky
Coordinates 38°11′37″N84°51′53″W / 38.19361°N 84.86472°W / 38.19361; -84.86472
Built1850
Sculptor Robert E. Launitz
USA Kentucky location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Kentucky War Memorial in Kentucky

The Kentucky War Memorial is a memorial to Kentuckians who have died in all wars. On a high-point called the "State Mound" in Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky, the memorial consists of a 65-foot-tall monument erected in 1850, nine low stone monuments built in a semi-circle, and two low straight monuments. The 1850 monument honors men who died up until 1850 and it lists the battles and the officers who fell. The semi-circular area to the south of the tall monument lists the wars, and the straight monuments list the names of all of Kentucky's fallen. The wars mentioned include: War of Independence, War of 1812, the Texas War of Independence, the Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish–American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War. [1] :134

Contents

In 1848, an act passed by the state legislature appropriated $15,000 for its construction. [2] The 65-foot-tall granite monument, topped by a statue of Victory, was unveiled in 1850.

The monument was erected to stand over the graves of 17 Kentucky soldiers who had fallen at the Battle of Buena Vista. Their interment in Frankfort Cemetery on July 20, 1847, was marked by a eulogy from John C. Breckinridge, a supporter of the war. According to a popular story, this mass funeral inspired Mexican-War veteran, Theordore O'Hara, to pen his famed poem, "Bivouac of the Dead". However, O'Hara was still with the army in Mexico in July 1848. [3]

Inscriptions

The 1850 monument is decorated on all four faces. Each face has a display on the base. The column is decorated with bands depicting battles, followed by names of officers who fell in those battles.

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References

  1. Kramer, Carl E (1986). Capital on the Kentucky: A Two Hundred Year History of Frankfort & Franklin County. Historic Frankfort, Inc. LCCN   86-80829.
  2. Johnson, Lewis Franklin (1921). History of the Frankfort Cemetery. Frankfort, KY: Roberts Printing Company. pp.  13 via Internet Archive.
  3. Ramage, James A.; Watkins, Andrea S. (2011). Kentucky Rising: Democracy, Slavery, and Culture from the Early Republic to the Civil War. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 184–185 via Google Books.
  4. Johnson. History of the Frankfort Cemetery. p. 14.