Many showed up early to visit graves of loved ones, like the Stavenger family, many of whom traveled from New Hampshire and Colorado.
Lovett said the United States owes a debt of gratitude to every person who has served in the armed forces, saying without them, many of the freedoms Americans take for granted wouldn't be possible.
Keynote speaker, Navy Lt. Clay Taylor, shared his experiences in Iraq, saying that even during the darkest of times, he and his unit were comforted by the fact the support from home was there.
"We did not lose anyone, although we had several close calls," he said. "The most difficult thing was being away from our families. You can deal with the attacks, but being away from your family is tough."
Being in a war zone is tough on everyone, but not having the support from home would make it unbearable, he said.
"Those who are fighting for your freedom need your support," Taylor said. "This can be anything from sending a care package, to a thank you when you see them."
Lovett said as long as America was free, Veterans Day would be celebrated.
The ceremony closed with a 21-gun Salute performed by the honor guard with the American Legion Post 18 from Stanford.
Taps, performed by Charlie Baldwin and Rex Peyton, followed.
People cried.
Wilmore holds 19th annual Veterans Day Parade
Citizens of Wilmore and others took advantage of the mild sunny weather to honor veterans with its 19th annual Wilmore Veterans Parade last Saturday.
Led by a color guard from the 138th Field Artillery from Lexington, and Grand Marshal Ora Spaid, more than 25 entries ranging from old police vehicles and fire en-gines to boy scouts and hor-ses and riders from the Asbury College Equine Center, rolled down Main Street, ending at the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center where a large group gathered for an outdoor ceremony.
Family and friends of the many patriots living at THVC were there to thank the veterans who fought for and defended the very freedoms that made the ceremony possible.
THVC Administrator Gilda Hill reminded the crowd, any morning we wake up on free land is because of the men and women who have served and sacrificed for their country.
Gatherings like the one at Thomson-Hood are a tribute to the glory and devotion to duty of all the men and women who wore the uniform of the Ameri-can soldier, Hill said.
The Asbury College Brass Ensemble set the tone for the day with several patriotic songs before the Executive Director of the Office of Kentucky Veterans Centers David Worley addressed the crowd.
Worley quoted words from Thomas Payne to describe the selfless sacrifices of American veterans on far flung battlefields in the name of peace.
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country, but he who stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
"Tyranny is not easily conquered," Worley said. "But we have this consolation with us that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the victory. What we attain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."
Worley said a grateful nation pauses on veterans day to honor our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers and the memories of the thousands of American patriots who did not return home from war.
The ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps by Asbury student Erin Flanigan.
