LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Active duty and retired veterans and their families received free admission at the Kentucky State Fair's Military Day on Sunday. 

Aside from the fun and the food, families also got the chance to learn about the sacrifices made during World War II. 


What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky Remembers WWII exhibit at the Kentucky State Fair highlights local war history

  • Retired Master Sgt. Philip Cease Jr. built a replica of a German POW tower 

  • The tower is dedicated to POWs and those missing in action

  • It took Cease about three weeks to build the tower 

Heather French Henry spearheaded The Kentucky Remembers World War II exhibit at the fair. The educational exhibit holds artifacts representing the sacrifices and service Kentuckians made during the war. 

It took Master Sgt. Philip Bernard Cease Jr. three weeks to build the POW tower. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley N. Brown)

A replica of a German prisoner of war tower built by United State Marine Corps Master Sergeant Philip Cease Jr. sits at the front of the exhibit. 

Cease’s father was awarded a bronze star and purple heart after he escaped from being a prisoner of war. 

“We don't know everything they went through because I’ve never been a prisoner of war. This is something that every prisoner of war would come out of their barracks or whatever every day and see, and have to be faced with every day,” Cease said. 

He built it and dedicated it to his father, other POWs and those missing in action. 

“We still have over 1,100 Kentuckians alone, who have remained missing in action, and adding that POW watch tower that collection that information at the end of the exhibit is really ultra important it really makes it even more comprehensive,” Henry said. 

Families celebrating Military Sunday at the fair took a break from the fun and food to learn about local war history. 

“They served and dedicated their lives to this war, and for us to be here right now. It’s just amazing,” said fairgoer Gavin Telehany. 

The exhibit will run the entire duration of the Kentucky State Fair. It's located in the South Wing of the Fair and Expo Center. 

“This hopefully will educate the children and the younger generation that freedom does not come cheap,” says Cease. “I think it's so important for parents to bring their children here and their grandchildren here and learn that the freedoms they have in America today are because of what these great men and women did back in World War II.”