We are looking for anyone who had service in the Kentucky National Guard and perished in the line of duty in any duty status (Active Duty, Training or Technician) either home or abroad. These names will be used by the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc. Board of Directors to identify those individuals whose names can be included on the Kentucky National Guard Memorial being planned for Frankfort, KY. Funds are being raised now to design and construct a memorial to be located at the entrance to Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort. The memorial will pay tribute to who perished and will also honor and recognize all those who have served. The memorial will focus on the period of the modern Kentucky National Guard which began on March 19, 1912 when the Kentucky State Guard officially became the Kentucky National Guard. The Kentucky National Guard Memorial will be built at the entrance to Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort - the state's headquarters for the Guard. So far research efforts by Memorial Fund volunteers have identified 348 potential names that could be inscribed on the memorial. To date 126 have been verified but verification and research are ongoing on the remaining 217 names. There will also likely be additional names discovered as the effort moves forward. The KYNG Memorial Fund Board is looking for help finding names, documentation and photos for fallen KYNG Members. We pride ourselves on leaving no one behind on the battlefield and we should not leave the memory of the fallen behind when the mission is over. Take as an example, Sgt. Thomas J. Brown of Madisonville. He drowned on January 23, 1937 at the age of 34 while on state active duty in Hopkins County. Brown's boat lost its stern from the vibrations of the outboard motor and sank almost immediately. He was last seen clinging to the debris in nine-foot deep icy flood waters before he sank from sight. Today, except for once sentence in a 1939 book, his name has also disappeared. Anyone who would like to learn more about the effort, offer assistance or to make a donation are urged to contact the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, Inc. at PO Box 5466, Frankfort, KY 40602 or e-mail at info@kyngmemorial.com or on the web at www.kyngmemorial.com.
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