Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
paid their respects at the
Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
365 Vernon Cooper Lane
Frankfort, KY
in 2011 and again in 2024

Located in Frankfort, Kentucky, overlooking the state capitol building, Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial contains the name of 1,103 Kentuckians killed in the Vietnam War. The memorial is in the form of a sundial with the names placed so that the tip of the gnomon's shadow touches each man's name on the date of his death, thus giving each fallen warrior his own personal memorial day. This memorial is free to visit and is open 24 hours.

Karen and Lee Duquette have visited this site twice and the two visits are combined here.
KY Deptartnebt sign

Every day can be Memorial Day - remembering 1,109 of Kentucky's fallen - One of the largest granite Memorial in the Nation. Constructed in 1988 to overlook the state Capitol in Frankfort, the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors Kentucky Veterans who served this nation during the Vietnam War.

Below: 2011 sign

Below 2024 sign

sign - Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial

sign - Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Below: 2011

Below 2024

sign at Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
sign at Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Below: The only difference in the three 2011 photos shown below is that the bench was NOT located near these signs in 2024. So although Karen Duquette photographed the signs again in 2024, these are only the 2011 photos with the bench.

sign at Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
sign at Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
sign at Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
:WOWLove It
The design concept is in the form of a large sundial. The stainless steel gnomon casts its shadow upon a granite plaza. There are 1,100 names of Kentuckians on the memorial, including 23 missing in action. Each name is engraved into the plaza, and placed so that the tip of the shadow touches his name on the anniversary of his death, thus giving each fallen veteran a personal Memorial Day. Below are some 2011 photos.
the sundial at Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
the sundial at Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Below: These photos show the sun hitting the sundial at different times of day in 2011
the sun hitting the sundial
the sun hitting the sundial
Lee Duquette at the sundial

Below: However in 2024, the sun was not giving off as bright of a shadow when Lee and Karen Duquette were here. There were a lot of little USA flags all around the sundial in 2024 that were not there in 2011.

sundial in 2024
Lee Duquette at the sundial in 2024
Lee Duquette at the sundial in 2024
Lee Duquette at the sundial in 2024
sundial in 2024
Below: 2011 photos - Each Veteran's name is precisely engraved on the granite so the shadow of the sundial pointer touches their name on the anniversary of their death as a personal tribute.The location of each name is fixed mathematically by the date of casualty, the geographic location of the memorial, the height of the gnomon and the physics of solar movement. The stones were then designed and cut to avoid dividing any individual name. The resulting radial-concentric joint pattern suggests a "web", symbolic of the entangling nature of this war.
list of those MIA
some of the inscribed names
Below: The circle of stones around the base of the gnomon are inscribed with the verse from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
verse from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
verse from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
verse from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Other verses are listed below:
For everything there is a season;
and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal,
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time for war, and a time for peace.

Below: More photos from 2024

flowers, USA flag by pole
flowers by the flag pole
look below
If you came here from 2011, you may view the following 9 sections in any order you wish. The page you are is not underlined and cannot be chosen from here.
Kentucky's Capital City and Capitol Building
Kentucky's Natural Bridge and Sky Lift
Red River Gorge
Zipline

Nada Tunnel
stand-off

Josephine Sculpture Park

Kentucky Vietnam
Veterans Memorial (this page)

U.S. Marine Corp.
history
Daniel Boone's
grave site
Louisville, KY
and the Mega Cavern
look below

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