Frankfort is far from the busiest city in Kentucky, though the manpower required to grease the bureaucratic wheels of state government and all of its ancillary support industries tends to supply this historic Kentucky River town with quite a bit of daily hustle and bustle. Yet there is a place just south of downtown, on a rise overlooking the State Capitol building, that seems to remain reverently quiet even on the busiest of days. Surrounded by new-growth woodlands and well-manicured lawns (the latter of which frequently attract the grazing attention of the local deer populace) rests one of the most solemn and distinctive memorials in the state - the
Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Honoring all 125,000 Kentuckians who served during the Vietnam War, the memorial consists of a giant, gleaming sundial (or more precisely, gnomon) set within a field of smoky-hued marble slabs. Upon the marble field are etched the names of the 1,103 Kentuckians who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country during that conflict. The names are arranged in such a way that the shadow of the sundial falls upon each one precisely on the anniversary of their death. The mathematical calculations required to make this happen boggle the mind (my mind, anyway).
Designed by Lexington architect and Naval aviator Helm Roberts and dedicated on Veteran's Day, 1988, the privately-funded and maintained memorial has become one of the most popular "hidden" attractions in Kentucky. Most days, just a handful of visitors trickle past, quietly taking in the solemnity of the memorial's purpose while marveling at its unique and innovative design (which earned it the American Institute of Architects Merit Award in 1995). It has become a routine stop on the various bus tours of Frankfort, leading to brief moments of crowded admiration, but most often the memorial sits within a bubble of solitude befitting its purpose.
Special ceremonies break the typically silent surroundings on important days of remembrance, such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, POW/MIA Recognition Day, and especially during the annual Rolling Thunder pilgrimage. Often, though, it's the individual families and loved ones of the fallen who visit the memorial to spend a few moments reflecting upon the lives of those lost in the name of freedom, and to perhaps leave a token in their honor.
Whether or not the Vietnam War touched you personally, the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial should be a definite stop on your visit to Kentucky's capital. The memorial is open year-round from dawn to dusk and lies just off the East-West Connector (KY 676) at the intersection of Coffee Tree Road and Vernon Cooper Lane (
38.177159, -84.864145).
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