The Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame 2019 class inductees are honored

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame continues to grow and this year’s class of inductees were honored at the State Capitol.

Once the Veterans are officially inducted their names will go on a plaque and it will be hung in the Rotunda at the State Capitol.

Executive Director of the Hall of Fame H.B. Deatherage talks about the importance of this recognition, “The importance of this is for the Veteran himself. It’s not about us, it’s not about the neighbor. We want to make this veteran feel worthy. We want them to know that we really appreciate what they did for the country and what they continue to do.”

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Dudley Riley is a WWII Veteran. He was held captive by Hitler’s Army in Germany for two years and four months during the war.

His family said that once he hung up his uniform he continued to help the community which led to him being selected as one of this year’s inductees.

Riley speaks of his time in the war, “After a three-day losing battle in which we had lost 150 tanks to the German artillery.”

Riley said his philosophy is a tanker is no good without a tank.

During his time being held captive, he was forced to walk 120 miles in the dead of winter and now he holds a purple heart medal.

“Today I have to have special shoes made for me by the veterans administration,” Riley said.