Chances are, you haven't seen a courthouse like the one in Edmonson County, Kentucky. From the outside, it appears as most small town courthouse do; a large brick building boasting the style from previous generations. It's the inside that separates it from the rest. No, not the actual courtrooms or offices that make up most if it, but the majestic Hall of Honor, where the photos of more than 1,200 Edmonson County veterans are displayed in wonderful reverence.
Arranged behind over twenty glass paneled cabinets, 98% of the photographs are properly labeled with names, some units, and many accomplishments. The collection was established during World War II by a local World War I hero, Pleas Sanders, an Army veteran who was the recipient of our nation’s second highest medal for heroism, The Distinguished Service Cross. As World War II commenced, Pleas was able to convince many local families to give him a photograph of their serviceman or woman for display in our most central place, the courthouse hallway. He meticulously labeled the photos and as the war progressed he added his own coding – a Gold Star for Killed In Action, a Bronze or Silver Star for heroic actions, and Purple Hearts, many Purple Hearts – for wounds. Before the age of social media, the aging hero had created the very special pre-internet "form of Facebook" where citizens of the county could come to mourn, commiserate, and share the status of their loved ones who were literally scattered all over the earth, but shared the bonds of community, friends, and family. The panels tell a story of a community that answers the nation’s call to service in war like few others.
Some of these photos are the only known copies in existence. After discussion with community members, Brownsville DAV, and VFW members, a group was formed with the express purpose of preserving through digitization, the priceless photographs of our Hero’s Hall. Non-profit 501c3 status has been secured for the Edmonson County Hall of Heroes Conservation Project, Inc and work has already begun, initially funded by a generous donation from Nesbit Alexander VFW Post #6937 members from Brownsville.
This ongoing digital restoration project has been done with great care and respect to represent the photos and information as accurately as possible; however, with some of the photos being decades and some even more than a century old, the quality of these photos are only as good as the original versions themselves. Each individual picture has been re-photographed and digitally stored for preservation in this project. Please contact us to find out how you can submit your photos and information about an Edmonson County veteran not displayed in the Hall of Heroes, or how you can become a donor for this project.
The Hall of Heroes curator is Maurita Miller of the DAV Auxiliary. The project advisor is past VFW Post Commander LtCol USMC (retired) Floyd Houston. The digitization and creative works are under the supervision of Darren Doyle, owner of The Edmonson Voice network.
Arranged behind over twenty glass paneled cabinets, 98% of the photographs are properly labeled with names, some units, and many accomplishments. The collection was established during World War II by a local World War I hero, Pleas Sanders, an Army veteran who was the recipient of our nation’s second highest medal for heroism, The Distinguished Service Cross. As World War II commenced, Pleas was able to convince many local families to give him a photograph of their serviceman or woman for display in our most central place, the courthouse hallway. He meticulously labeled the photos and as the war progressed he added his own coding – a Gold Star for Killed In Action, a Bronze or Silver Star for heroic actions, and Purple Hearts, many Purple Hearts – for wounds. Before the age of social media, the aging hero had created the very special pre-internet "form of Facebook" where citizens of the county could come to mourn, commiserate, and share the status of their loved ones who were literally scattered all over the earth, but shared the bonds of community, friends, and family. The panels tell a story of a community that answers the nation’s call to service in war like few others.
Some of these photos are the only known copies in existence. After discussion with community members, Brownsville DAV, and VFW members, a group was formed with the express purpose of preserving through digitization, the priceless photographs of our Hero’s Hall. Non-profit 501c3 status has been secured for the Edmonson County Hall of Heroes Conservation Project, Inc and work has already begun, initially funded by a generous donation from Nesbit Alexander VFW Post #6937 members from Brownsville.
This ongoing digital restoration project has been done with great care and respect to represent the photos and information as accurately as possible; however, with some of the photos being decades and some even more than a century old, the quality of these photos are only as good as the original versions themselves. Each individual picture has been re-photographed and digitally stored for preservation in this project. Please contact us to find out how you can submit your photos and information about an Edmonson County veteran not displayed in the Hall of Heroes, or how you can become a donor for this project.
The Hall of Heroes curator is Maurita Miller of the DAV Auxiliary. The project advisor is past VFW Post Commander LtCol USMC (retired) Floyd Houston. The digitization and creative works are under the supervision of Darren Doyle, owner of The Edmonson Voice network.