Bardstown honors those who paid freedom's price

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Monday, May 28, 2007 -- Nelson County honored those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy during Memorial Day observances today in Bardstown and New Haven. The Bardstown ceremony was broadcast live by 1320 WBRT radio.

At the Bardstown City Cemetery, the colors hung nearly motionless as the Rev. Kit Yeaste opened the ceremony with a prayer, seeking God's blessings on those who protect our country and expressing thanks and honor to those who died while serving their country. Among those assembled for the Memorial Day service were Nelson County Judge-Executive Dean Watts, former Bardstown mayor Harry Spalding, former state Rep. Jody Haydon and city councilman Bobby Simpson.

Yeaste told the story of how three of his comrades were the first casualties of his outfit not long after arriving in Europe during World War II. He read a portion of a diary found on the body of a dead German soldier who was involved in the fight against Yeaste's division. The young German soldier's diary contained an entry pleading for the need for peace throughout all the countries of the world. The diary was later published as part of a book, Yeaste said.

Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton welcomed the crowd gathered around the cemetery's old gazebo. Heaton said our country's willingness to defend our freedom is one reason our form of government has survived.

As the son of a World War II veteran, Heaton said his father and his uncles -- all of whom served during the war -- did not talk a great deal about their military service. "But they were eager to share stories about why they were involved, and the path to the present they took," he said.

Heaton told of the sacrifice one uncle made during WWII. He left behind his studies at Notre Dame University to join the military, and lost an eye during the Battle of the Bulge. His uncle returned home, rejoined civilian life and started a family. "His glass eye was a constant reminder to all of us of his sacrifice and bravery," Heaton said.

State Rep. David Floyd told the assembly that our nation must not become complacent. He used an analogy crafted by former U.S. Education Secretary William J. Bennett in a 1997 speech at the U.S. Naval Academy to describe the role our military plays.

The average citizens are like sheep, Bennett said. Sheep are kind, gentle creatures who only hurt one another by accident. On the other hand are those who oppose us, the wolves, and the wolves strive to feed mercilessly on the sheep.

But between the sheep and the wolves stand the sheepdogs -- U.S. military forces who like the sheepdog, live to confront the wolves and protect the sheep.

Sheep aren't always comfortable with sheepdogs, who make them uncomfortable because like the wolf, they too have the capacity for violence. The difference of course is that the sheepdogs are sworn to protect the sheep and only attack the wolves.

The sheep sometimes are in denial that the wolves exist and will attack them given a chance. "The sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial," Floyd said.

When the wolves appear, the sheep realize how much they need the sheepdogs, and how necessary they are. This was show by the attacks on 9/11, when Americans embraced patriotism and members of the U.S. military. "We applauded soldiers in airports, we bought their meals and drinks, we wrote letters overseas and we helped their families," he said.

Since 9/11, we've become more like sheep again, he said, forgetting at times the importance of our military forces. Sheep are born sheep, and they have no choice but be sheep, Floyd said. "We as human beings have a choice."

Our nation must always remember those who paid the highest price for our freedom, he said. "By gathering here today and every Memorial Day, we show the world that we will never forget the sacrifices they made."

Chaplain Jim Guest of American Legion Post 121 read the names of veterans who died in the past year, noting that "we owe them a debt that will never be paid."