Veterans and their families will once again join with the community at the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Patriots Peace Memorial in Louisville, Kentucky.
With this year’s enshrinements of three U.S. Navy submariners — including one from Brownstown — who perished in 1968 when the USS Scorpion was lost at sea, the memorial will now represent the service of 465 patriots from the region who have been memorialized since 2002.
This year’s ceremony set for noon May 27 (rain or shine) marks the 22nd anniversary of the Patriots Peace Memorial, which is believed to be the only such memorial of its kind in the United States.
As a name is added, a concrete brick is removed and replaced with a personalized glass plate identifying each patriot and signifying the loss. This void in an otherwise solid wall becomes a “portal of light,” transforming the interior by day and radiating outward at night through each name as a daily reminder to celebrate the joy of freedom safeguarded by these brave men and women.
Those to be enshrined this year are:
Quartermaster 3rd Class Dennis Paul Pferrer who graduated from Brownstown Central High School in 1965. Pferrer, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pferrer, was nominated for enshrinement by his sister, Karen DeZarn of Lampasas, Texas.
Torpedoman 2nd Class Harry D. Huckelberry of Louisville, Kentucky. He was nominated for enshrinement by his nieces Paula Glover of Louisville and Carla White of Sellersburg.
Senior Clerk Radioman Robert Johnson of Jenkins, Kentucky. He was nominated for enshrinement by daughter, Sharon Munley of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
All three of these patriots, along with 96 other crewmembers of the USS Scorpion, remain on “eternal patrol” in the silent service of our United States Navy.
The memorial at 3742 Upper River Road in Louisville honors and remembers those who have died while serving in our nation’s armed forces. It exclusively honors members of our armed forces who have lost their lives in the line of duty under conditions other than hostile action.
This memorial is dedicated to those who have “stood the watch” and will be remembered for their honorable service to our country.
The ceremony will include a keynote address by Gene F. Price, a rear admiral of the U.S. Navy (retired) who now lives in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
The memorial’s website (PatriotsPeaceMemorial.org) contains information about the memorial, a list of all enshrines and contact information for those wishing to nominate a veteran for future enshrinement.