Tradition of military service strong in The Cov and its government
COVINGTON, Ky. – The tradition of military service in Kentucky predates the state itself.
Even before the Bluegrass territory was ratified as the 15th state in the fledgling union, the men and women who lived within these borders contributed energy, sweat, and blood in support of our nation’s security and values.
Isaac Shelby – Kentucky’s very first governor and the namesake of Covington’s easternmost street – was a military hero both before and after he took office, having been among the “Overmountain Men” who taught British Major Patrick Ferguson a costly and fatal Revolutionary War lesson at Kings Mountain in 1780.
A few years later, well over half of all Americans killed in the War of 1812 were from Kentucky.
It’s no surprise then, that the tradition of military service has remained strong over the centuries in the Bluegrass State and, locally, here in The Cov.
Around the city are a number of memorial sites and plaques honoring that commitment and the military veterans of all branches who served this country in times of peace and war.
Whether it was taking a beach under mortar and machine-gun fire … shrugging off the stinging sand or sea spray … enduring the never-ending horrors of a frigid mountainside or a humid jungle … walking a minefield … landing on a bobbing deck in a turbulent sea … fighting panic in claustrophobic quarters as a submarine submerged and slid into the depths … or just enduring the mind- and body-numbing stress of endless training and physical tests, Covington’s sons and daughters have throughout history demonstrated courage galore.
Friday is Veterans Day.
City Hall will be closed, so today we take a moment to honor all our veterans in Covington and especially – by name – those working here at the City (and check out some of their pictures above):
- Matt Archer – Navy
- Aaron Bolyard – Army
- Nick Boots – Navy
- Joe Bowman – Army
- Ben Erdman – Marine Corps
- Terry Galliher – Army
- Chris Greer – Army
- Sara McPherson Jenkins – Air Force
- Brandon Kersting – Air Force
- Jonathon Krull – Army
- Kaleb Miller – Navy
- Mark Ober – Army
- Jordan Warner – Marine Corps
- Ben Wasson – Army
- Cornell White – Marine Corps
- Zack Williams – Air Force
- Stan Wylie – Army
- Charlie Beil – Navy
- Joshua Bornhorn – Army
- Nicollette Brown – Marine Corps
- Robert Christen – Army
- Jeff Cook – Marine Corps
- James Donaldson – Marine Corps
- James Elliott – Army
- Daniel Elsbernd – Marine Corps
- David Finan – Navy
- Michael Gilliland – Army
- David Griswold – Marine Corps
- Christopher Haubner – Army
- David Hoyle – Marine Corps
- Matthew Hugenberg – Air Force
- Kevin Igo – Army
- Ryan Jones – Army
- Gregory Jones – Army
- Marcus Jordan – Army
- Joshua Knott – Army
- Eric Lomax – Marine Corps
- Cody Monson – Army
- Bradley Morris – Air Force
- John Murphy – Marine Corps
- Jacob Noe – Army
- Brian Powers – Army
- Robert Rose – Army/Marine Corps
- Zachary Stayton – Army
- Jeffrey Tolliver -- Army
- Kyle Warner – Army
- Ryan Wielgus -- Army
- Steven Willis – Army
- Scott Hahn (seasonal) – Marine Corps
- Derrick Humphrey (seasonal) – Air Force
- Dennis New – Army
- Rick Smith – Army