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As the Deputy City Clerk, Dianna Layne is no stranger to speaking with groups of people. However, she did so in somewhat of a different capacity on Wednesday, April 10th.  

As someone who sits on the Clark County Veterans Council, LLC, Layne discussed the upcoming World War II and Korean War Veterans Memorial Project at the Rotary Club of Winchester meeting at the Winchester Country Club at 410 Boone Avenue. 

“This is a very important project that we’re all very proud of,” Layne said.

As mentioned in a handout delivered by Layne, “the Veterans Memorial will honor the World War II and Korean War veterans [sic] killed in action with embedded markers that will lie in front of the Wall of Remembrance. The Wall will list the start and end dates of both World War II and Korea and will be flanked by two end pedestals displaying maps showing the location of each deceased veteran’s [sic] action. Framed by seven trees symbolizing the seven years of war and a flagpole will be lit to honor the service of POWs and MIAs. The Commemorative Brick Pavers will line the walkway recognizing other Veterans and supporters who help fund the memorial.” 

The efforts to establish a World War II and Korean War Veterans Memorial honoring those from Clark County and more have long been in the making. 

“Approximately twenty years ago, there was a group of veterans that got together.” Layne said. 

“They worked on it and they thought they had a site for it and it ended up falling through…the project languished.” 

Following a series of events, the property at 14 East Broadway Street became open. 

“We now have a beautiful site down there on the corner of Church Alley and Broadway,” Layne added. “In 2022, the veterans’ group…decided we needed to get this project done.” 

Several veterans, including Judge David M. Ward of the 25th Judicial District Division 1, took action in getting the project underway. 

Among actions taken were getting Clark County Veterans Council, LLC, nonprofit status, thereby qualifying them as a 501(c)(3) organization. 

Roy Hudson currently serves as President with Chuck Witt as Vice President and Greg Yates – Partners in Education Executive Director – serving as Secretary-Treasurer.

“They felt like this was very important because people would want that in order to give donations to the project.” Layne said. 

To help with the building of the project – estimated at approximately $250,000 – and more, various donations have already come from numerous individuals and organizations, including the Marine Corps League. 

The Clark County Veterans Council also applied for two grants, with one from the Kentucky Veterans Trust Fund in Frankfort being approved for the entire requested amount of $100,000. 

Yet there is more that can be done. 

The Clark County Veterans Council is launching two Brick Paver Campaigns to help fund the project. 

While the memorial honors Clark County veterans of World War II and Korea, the Commemorative Brick Pavers allow donors to recognize the service of any veteran living or deceased. 

As stated in the handout delivered by Layne, “Each $100 donation entitles the donor to a laser engraved brick paver with their choice of service emblem and three…lines of inscription (12 characters per line). Each 4”x 8” paver has a lifetime guarantee. You can help build this permanent tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of this nation.” 

On June 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the auxiliary gym inside George Rogers Clark High School, there will be a Veterans Day of Valor to recognize those who’ve served in the armed forces. 

The event will be hosted by Lady Veterans Connect Executive Director and Founder Phyllis Abbott and Kim Elkins, wife of state Senator Greg Elkins. 

Hopes are also high that future Veterans Day events might be held at the site. 

As word continues to get out, popularity and possibility also continues to grow. 

“There was a gentleman in my office two days ago who found out about it when he came to visit his brother in Winchester…there were three brothers spread out in Kentucky, and he came to my office and brought me three donation forms for all three of them with checks,” Layne said. “It’s going to be a beautiful walkway with those pavers that will have all the names on them…It’ll be a very beautiful memorial.” 

For anyone interested in providing donations, whether for a commemorative brick paver or in general, checks can be made payable to Clark County Veterans Council, Inc. P.O. Box 426, Winchester, KY. 40392-0426. 

Additional information can also be gathered at https://www.clarkcountywarmemorial.org or the Clark County Veterans Memorial Facebook page under the same name.