Some 200 Paducah area veterans, family members and residents gathered for a Veterans Day ceremony and many more lined downtown Broadway for a parade this morning.
Paducah Mayor Gayle Kaler said Veterans Day is her favorite holiday in Paducah. "We talk a lot about veterans but I think many times we can't tell them enough how much they're appreciated in their service to this country," Kaler said.
Kaler said more needs to be done to take care of veterans. She said she joined the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness and that the Paducah Housing Authority puts veterans at the top of the list. She said there's also a food program and social workers available.
"My favorite thing to do is hug a veteran. I think everybody today that sees a veteran should give him a hug and thank him."
At the ceremony, Kaler recognized 2016 Distinguished Veteran Charles Puckett and non-veteran Gayron A. Ferguson Jr. with the Patriot Award for serving veteran causes in the community.
The event began at the Korean War Monument at the Dolly McNutt Memorial Plaza, named after former City Commissioner and Mayor. The plaza also has monuments honoring veterans of World War II and the Vietnam War.
Kaler says there are plans to add a monument honoring veterans of the Middle East conflicts.