Written by Adam May
The tradition of honoring Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom was renewed Sunday afternoon, as residents of the small Todd County town of Trenton gathered and remembered.
Kaitlyn Beluardo, a Trenton resident who served six years in the National Guard and four as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist with the United States Army, reminded that Memorial Day is not just a day off from work.
“It’s a day to pause, reflect and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to this country,” said Beluardo. “And here in the peaceful surroundings of Trenton, Kentucky—surrounded by friends and neighbors—it feels especially right to humbly bow our heads together and remember.”
The 32-year old Beluardo, whose husband, Brock, also served in the Army, expounded on the need to pause and reflect.
Many who come home from war continue to battle mental health issues and Beluardo remembered them.
Evoking memories of the March 29, 2023 collision of two Army Blackhawk helicopters that were performing a training mission over nearby Trigg County, Beluardo remembered those nine Fort Campbell soldiers and all of the other American service members who have died through the centuries while preparing for war.
There is also a message of hope and resilience embedded within Memorial Day.
“This day we do not just mourn, we lift our eyes to God with gratitude,” said Beluardo. “Thank you Jesus for sending us these brave warriors and families. Our lives are forever changed for their acts of bravery and selflessness.”
In their sacrifice, Beluardo noted that those men and women helped preserve an American way of life that has often come under attack over the last 249 years.
“We remember that in every act of service, every life given, hope is not lost,” she continued. There is a light that continues to shine, a reminder that love is greater than fear and that courage is greater than comfort and that the spirit of those that we have lost is never truly gone, it lives on in the freedoms that we enjoy every day.”
Concluding her remarks with a challenge to those inside Trenton Presbyterian Church, Beluardo asked them to honor the fallen with how they live their lives.
The ceremony, traditionally held at Edgewood Cemetery in Trenton, was moved to the church this year and the church will remain the host for the foreseeable future, according to City Commissioner Joyce Edwards, citing the unpredictability of weather in late May.
There is a long history of Trenton hosting a Sunday afternoon service, as it began when the local Garden Club organized the first event in 1962. Their first project was improving and beautifying Edgewood Cemetery, according to local historian Carrie Joy Brookshire. Flags continue to be placed on graves of veterans in that cemetery each year in advance of Memorial Day.
The club continued to host the service until it dissolved several years ago and the City of Trenton took over.
Following Beluardo’s remarks, Julie Hamlet—a Trenton resident and teacher at Todd County Middle School—read the names of over 200 Trenton area residents who have served in the military during the country’s history.
“It is because of these great men and women that hope abounds for us today,” Hamlet said. “It should fortify us as a people to continue to have a steadfast love and a determination for our country.”
