In honor and memory of all Kentucky veterans who served the country in times of peace and war, and especially those who paid the supreme sacrifice so that others might enjoy freedom, this tribute remembers their spirit, devotion, and love of country. It also highlights the roles and origins of the nation’s military branches: the Army, established June 14, 1775, for military land operations and descended from the Continental Army whose victories gave birth to a new nation; the Navy, established Oct. 13, 1775, serving in peace and war and seeking out enemies on, under, or above the sea; the Air Force, established Aug. 1, 1907, originally named the Army Signal Corps and providing support for ground troops while keeping aircraft and missiles alert throughout the world; the Marines, established Nov. 10, 1775, a combat-ready force trained for amphibious assault operations and active in almost every major war of the United States; the Coast Guard, established Aug. 4, 1790, formed to protect the coast against smugglers and responsible for policing shorelines and harbors, enforcing maritime laws, rescuing victims of sea disasters, and providing navigational aids; and the National Guard, established Dec. 13, 1636, descended from militia units and made up of citizen soldiers trained for disaster relief in the states and for national defense in times of war.