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A Memorial Day celebration honoring fallen servicemen and women was held at the Camp Nelson National Cemetery on Monday, May 26, 2025. 

The event honors all members of the armed forces who died during their service. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. military’s exit from Vietnam. 

The event is organized by the Central Kentucky Veterans Committee, a nonprofit chartered to support ceremonies at Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Its membership is composed of 24 volunteers, most of whom are veterans. It operates solely on donations. 

The event began with a performance by the Salvation Army Lexington Citadel Band, one of several patriotic performances scheduled for that morning. 

Chairman of the Committee, Nick McManus, also Vice Flotilla Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, welcomed the crowd to the cemetery. 

“It is often said a soldier dies twice, once whenever he takes his last breath, and he dies again when he is forgotten. But here at Camp Nelson National Cemetery, these 21,500 souls are not forgotten because on Saturday, as we do every year, more than 400 volunteers came to honor your loved ones by placing flags on every grave, respectfully, saying something like this: “Corporal Bill McMillan, The U.S. Army, you are not forgotten.'” McManus said. The volunteers placed flags at 2,500 graves in a little over an hour. “Everyone lying around you took to the field to protect your freedom, and yet some 2,000 behind that wall also fought for personal freedom, their freedom, and freedom for their families. Freedom from slavery and many of them are out there with unmarked graves as well. Those will be the small stones that you see throughout the field section. These fields of white stones, these rolling hills are beautiful and majestic, but by being here, don’t you get the feeling that these folks did something special for us?”

Jessamine County Judge Executive David West also spoke, thanking everyone for attending. “We are so proud that this cemetery is here as a place of honor. We worked hard to offer land to expand this cemetery because we believe so much in this mission,” He said. West also acknowledged important individuals attending the event, including U.S. Congressman Andy Barr, Director of Camp Nelson National Cemetery Michael Niklarz, staff of the cemetery, guest speaker, U.S. Army Retired Brigadier General Benjamin F. Adams III, U.S. Army Retired Brigadier General Howard Hunt, Lloyd McMillan, Corporal Bill McMillian, 22nd State Senator Donald Douglas, and State Representatives Daniel Fister and Matt Lockett. Lastly, West mentioned tCamp Nelson National Monument Superintendent Ernie Price and Chief of Interpretation and Education Steve Phan. West added that the National Monument staff were just honored by Kentucky Educational Television for their “excellent work.” 

Master of Ceremonies Jack Pattie also celebrated the staff of the Camp Nelson National Cemetery. “Mike Niklarz, on behalf of the families of our veterans, thank you for what you do, sir, and your staff.”

Behind the stage and the band was the 14th Kentucky Light Artillery, who provided cannon salutes at the ceremony. Their wives were next to them in black civil-war-era dresses meant for grieving those honored on Memorial Day. There was also a group of men in wool World War II uniforms standing in a line beside the band. 

 

Chaplain John Hollock, a Vietnamese American who served in the Coast Guard, provided the invocation for the event. He was born the day Vietnam fell to the northern Vietnamese. “My dad retired from the army. A Vietnamese immigrant family raised me. I know the scars that many of you Vietnam vets carried. I lived through it; I saw it in your eyes. I grew up around you. You were a little bit younger back then. You never received the thanks you deserved. Back in those days, you came off the plane, and people disrespected you; they didn’t give you a hero’s welcome. And I know the pain that you carry. Was this a just war or not a just war? I don’t know if it was or not; I can’t answer questions that only God can. But I can tell you, if it wasn’t for you and the sacrifices of those soldiers who died in that horrendous war, I wouldn’t be here to honor you, to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. And to all the soldiers, all the airmen, all the coasties, all the navy, all the military personnel that gave their life to our defense, we can’t thank them enough,” Hollock said. As he left the stage and sat down, he received pats on his back and shoulders from people around him.  

U.S. 6th District Congressman Andy Barr spoke, telling the stories of three American service members who died doing their jobs. 

“It’s an honor to be with all of you here at the Camp Nelson National Cemetery, and I always felt like the best way to communicate the meaning of Memorial Day is to tell the stories of the heroes who came before us. So I want to thank Nick McManus and the Central Kentucky Veterans Committee for giving me the privilege of sharing these stories of patriotism,” Barr said.

He spoke about the story of Nathan Hale, a recent Yale graduate and First Lieutenant in the 7th Connecticut Regiment, who became a spy for the United States in 1776. He disguised himself as a Dutch school teacher and gathered crucial intelligence for General George Washington. The Queen’s rangers captured him, and when asked to renounce his treason to the crown, he told the crowd that his only regret was that “I have but one life to lose for my country.” He was 21 when he was hanged. 

On May 17, 1968, As part of Operation Allen Brooke in the Vietnam War, Private First Class Robert Charles Burke laid his life on the line. He saved three dozen soldiers as he moved from one position to another. He became the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. He died at 18 years old. 

Sergeant Nicole Gee enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2017. She was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, where she provided maintenance on ground electronic transmission systems. Sergeant Gee was deployed to Afghanistan in 2021, where she served on a female Engagement Team to facilitate evacuation support for Afghan women and children. Sergeant Gee was killed at 23 years old in a suicide bombing. “During her memorial service, Sergeant Gee’s good friend, Sergeant Harrison, remarked that she lost her life so others may live, and without a doubt, she died proud. Proud of who she was, proud of what she was doing, proud to be a United States Marine,” Barr said.  

Military planes performed a couple of flyovers over Camp Nelson National Cemetery before moving on to the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center. 

Each branch of the military, including the U.S. Space Force, was honored with a Flag Ceremony. 

 

Kentucky’s 14 Missing-In-Action (MIA) Soldiers from the Vietnam War were honored, with each individual’s name called out, with Navy Sea Cadets holding Plaques with their names. After each name was announced, the audience responded with, “You are not forgotten.” The following is a list of those missing in action. 

PFC Larry Bullock USA, Somerset.

CPT Hugh Byrd USA, Berea.

CPT James Dawson USAF, Ashland.

1LT John Hale USMS, Brandenburg.

PFC Gary Hall USMS, Covington.

CPT Alan Mateja USAF, Louisville, (Placard carried by brother, Dave Mateja.)

W01 William Milliner USA, Louisville.

MAJ Carl Mitchell USA, Mt. Sterling.

MAJ Joseph Morrison USMC Lexington.

LCPL Martin Prather USMS, Louisville.

1LT Joseph Ross USAF, Ft. Thomas.

CPT Charles Shelton USAF, Owensboro. 

1LT John Stringer USA, Hazard. (Placard carried by his daughter, Cathy Robinson).

LCDR John Tapp USN, Harrodsburg.