LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A patriotic display in Henderson has been a city tradition for 75 years.
Three feet by feet, one after another, crosses are placed in Central Park.
“We’ve got them in World War II, Korea. I think the Revolutionary War. I’ve got one of two here, I think,” Jim Hanley says. Hanley is a veteran himself, having served in the Marines during the Vietnam War.
Each cross bears the name of a deceased Henderson County veteran. Hanley is overseeing this operation and carrying on a tradition started by veterans who came before him.
“Probably about 1946, 47, round about that. It started with about 23 crosses and it has grown ever since,” Hanley explains.
Hanley is a lifelong resident of Henderson and longtime member of American Legion Post 40. He knew many of the men whose names they display on the crosses. He points out a row of crosses with the last name “Beck.”
“My mother’s side of the family is ‘Becks.’ Most of them were in the Navy. This is my uncles,” Hanley said.
On Wednesday, they have already placed about 1000 crosses with many more to go.
“We’re going to put up about 5,900 crosses,” Hanley said.
7th graders from Henderson North Middle School are spending the day planting the crosses alphabetically. 13-year-old Kylynn Ellenburg says it’s hard to understand exactly what sacrifice looks like, but today it’s clear.
“It just shows how much people care about America,” Ellenburg said. “It makes me feel protected or safe,” the 7th grader adds.
“Can you imagine the stories this could tell right here of all these crosses, of what the veterans did,” Hanley asks.
The Henderson cross memorial will remain on display through the Memorial Day holiday.