Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Catholic laity, clergy, and religious figures gathered with Governor Andy Beshear and other dignitaries to pay tribute to over 500 veterans buried in St. Louis Cemetery on Baxter Avenue during a Veterans Day event on November 11. Among those honored were 16 African American men who rest in unmarked graves in a section of the cemetery that was once segregated.

Deacon Ned Berghausen, who organized the event, highlighted the history of these veterans. They are part of more than 1,630 Black Catholics interred at the cemetery between 1867 and 1937, many without marked graves. At the ceremony, Deacon Berghausen remarked on the significance of military service: “Our American military reminds us that at crucial moments in our history, freedom has also required a willingness to fight and if necessary to die. Today we honor all living veterans.”

Governor Beshear addressed attendees, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Kentucky's Black military veterans: “The 16 soldiers being honored today represent Black Kentuckians who fought in defense of all our rights in the Civil War, as Buffalo Soldiers during the segregation era and in World War I,” he stated. He acknowledged that this recognition is overdue: “This honor and recognition is long overdue and sadly it’s a familiar story."

The governor continued by highlighting past oversights: "The heroism, service and accomplishment of our Black citizens have too often been ignored, forgotten and sometimes even denied." He concluded with a call for appreciation and reflection: “We honor those who fought on our behalf and in our defense; we thank those who sacrificed their time, their health and even their lives; and we pray for those who continue to serve. Our military veterans are the best among us and I hope that we, as Kentuckians, can commit to doing the hard work of being worthy of their sacrifices.”

During the event, names of the 16 Black veterans were read aloud. Deacon Berghausen leads efforts to locate unmarked graves within St. Louis Cemetery through collaboration with groups such as the Sister Thea Bowman Society and the Unmarked Graves Project. Recent initiatives include using ground-penetrating radar technology to identify gravesites.