While the sun shone bright on the old Kentucky home, so, too, did it grace the West Cadiz Park Pavilion Friday morning — as scores of servicemen and women, and their friends and family, gathered following a parade down Main Street, all in the glory and honor of Veteran’s Day.
Judge-Executive Stan Humphries, master of ceremonies, opened with a humble, but strong, clarification on the revered holiday.
The man of the hour: Kenneth J. Cunningham, who served as the 2023 grand marshal for Friday’s march.
After joining the U.S. Air Force Air Sea Rescue in 1952, he followed his four-year enlistment and joined up with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg, and eventually transferred to the 11th Airborne and was stationed in Munich, Germany, before spending 1958 jumping into Lebanon.
In 1966, 1967 and 1969, twice wounded, Cunningham was part of the leadership deployed to the Vietnam War. He didn’t return to the U.S. until 1970, where he landed with the B Company 503rd Infantry in Fort Campbell.
Just before his 1973 retirement as platoon sergeant E7, he worked with the 501st Infantry at West Point as a summer trainer and mountaineer.
His daughter, Peggy Cunningham Darling, took on the mantle.
Cunningham only humbly wanted to speak on his time as an “honorary Girl Scout,” handing out a trophy to the local troop for their unwavering support and strong parade entry.
Alongside Humphries, Brenda Southwick, of the James Thomas Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, also honored the Corvette Club, Trigg County’s Boy Scouts Troop 57 and the Trigg County High School Wildcat Marching Band for their parade participation.
John L. Street Library Director Pam Metts — along with colorguard Curt Holmes, Reid Snedaker, Grady Papajeski and Nick Stanford — folded an American flag 13 times, signifying specific tenants held true through the nation and its Armed Forces.
Offering invocation, Bro. Bobby McIntosh imparted wisdom of a soldier and a servant.
VFW Teachers of the Year were Maela Washer for the elementary school, Somar Brant for the middle school and Cameron Brown for the high school.
LaTrita Russell, teacher and servicewoman, sang the National Anthem, while a 21-gun salute, “Taps” and emphatic bagpipes closed the ceremony.
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