NEW HAVEN, Ky. — Throughout its history, New Haven has over 1,000 residents who have registered to serve in the United States Military.
The small Nelson County city hosts an annual Veterans Day ceremony at city hall.
"This town has always been a community that respected their veterans because they have so many of them," Vietnam veteran and event organizer Larry Holbert, said.
New Haven celebrates their growing community of hometown veterans from every military branch for more than 40 years. Patriotism is rooted in the city's history and after years of hosting an annual ceremony the organizers wanted to do something different.
Holbert said this year's event would focus on honoring women veterans.
Army veteran and Amy Spalding is one of 170 heroes on a the banners hanging on light poles across the city. Spalding was featured alongside her daughter as they walked the army branch's flag in front of their neighbors during the ceremony.
"My son normally wears one of these (army) coats too on Veterans Day when we do the program at school so it's really awesome," Spalding said. "(My daughter) is wearing my boots and everything and my dog tags. It makes me happy that's she's proud of me."
Holbert said the Veterans Administration and VFWs are seeing an increase of women soldiers. So he felt like it was time to dedicate one of their hometown ceremonies to the women of New Haven who have committed their lives to their country.
"It gave me goosebumps to watch these girls and these woman to march in our parade of flags," Holbert said. "Just fantastic."
"For me it was huge because we come to this event every year we've been in New Haven for six years and the women have never really been highlighted or mentioned very often," Spalding said.
New Haven may be small in size but big in heart. Holbert said it speaks to their history.
"When Saint Catherine's had it's elementary and high school here patriotism was something taught by the nuns," Holbert said.
As the community retired an American flag each vet reflected on their own experience. Their respect for their country and for each other remains forever bonded.
The ceremony also included a young girl carrying a prisoner of war flag and an empty seat to memorialize those that did not make it home to their families.
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