Serving those who served the Commonwealth and this great nation

That is our mission, our job and our privilege. We work every day to make sure Kentucky's 335,000 veterans and their families receive all the benefits and services they have earned.

On this website you will find information on benefits counseling, skilled nursing care at state veterans centers, dignified interment at state veterans cemeteries, health care, education, employment and special programs for women veterans, homeless veterans and others.

African-Americans in the U.S. Military

Major General Marcia Anderson is the first black female major general in the U.S. Army. Read her story here.

Watch a video about the 6888 Battalion of African-American women posted to Birmingham, England during World War II. 

Learn more about the history of African Americans in the U.S. Army here.

Watch a video about the first African American female pilot here. Willa Beatrice Brown was the first African American woman in the U.S. to be a licensed pilot. Her efforts were responsible for Congress' forming the renowned Tuskegee Airmen squadron, leading to the integration of the U.S. military service in 1948.

Wreaths Across America 2011

About 60 people turned out on a cold but sunny Saturday, Dec. 10 to place wreaths on all 319 headstones at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North in Williamstown.

View pictures here.

About 100 people attended the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East in Greenup County.

See more photos here.

More than 300 people attended the Wreath Across America ceremony at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville on Saturday, Dec. 10. Volunteers placed wreaths on all 1,520 headstones at the cemetery.

View more photos here.

More than 100 people turned out for the Wreaths Across America ceremony at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Maj. Gen. James M. MacDonald, Commander of the Cadet Command at Fort Knox, was the keynote speaker. Donna Betson lead the volunteers collecting donations for wreaths.

See more pictures here.

New Pat Tillman Scholarship Available at EKU

Eastern Kentucky University is one of 14 colleges and universities nationwide selected to participate in the Tillman Military Scholars Program for the 2012-13 academic year.

The program honors Pat Tillman, who left a successful professional football career to join the U.S. Army and who later died in combat in Afghanistan.  Providing scholarships that cover tuition as well as other needs, such as housing and child care, the program supports the nation’s active and veteran servicemembers and their spouses by removing financial barriers to completing an academic degree.

Applications may be submitted to the Pat Tillman Foundation between February 13 and March 16.

Click here for details.

Women Veterans Meet and Greet

Please join Women Veterans from across Kentucky in a Meet and Greet Women Veterans event on Saturday, March 17 2012.  It will be held in Louisville from noon to 4 p.m. at the Wayside Hotel Louisville, 120 West Broadway.

The Meet and Greet will be an opportunity for all women veterans to find out about the organizations that support women veterans and to meet the people involved in that support. In addition, women veterans will learn at first hand the resources available to them and their families. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to meet other women veterans, and join and expand support networks.

If you are interested in promoting your services and resources to women veterans, this event is a great place to start. There is no charge for participation, but space is limited.  Table space is free and free parking is easily accessible at Wayside Hotel Louisville. Refreshments will be served. Please call or email Kentucky's Women Veterans Coordinator Robin Jones at 502-595-4447, robins.jones@ky.gov if you have any questions.  Please RSVP about participating no later than March 1, 2012.

New John Keys Scholarship Application

Click here for application. [PDF 81 KB]

Applications received by April 7, 2012 will be considered at the May 1, 2012 Scholarship Review Committee.

PVA Bass Tour

April 20-22, 2012, Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, KY

Paralyzed Veterans of America B.A.S.S.-sanctioned tour. Open to Active Duty Members, Veterans and Civilians with a mobility impairment. Funding and equipment is available.

For more information, call or email Hack Albertson, 800-242-4782, halbertson@hughes.net

UPDATE:  The Kentucky Military History Museum reopened to the public at 2 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2011. The newly renovated museum houses the exhibition, "Kentucky Military Treasures: Selections from the Kentucky Historical Society Collections."

Kentucky Military History Museum tours must be scheduled at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.

The Kentucky Historical Society's new Online Catalog  of every artifact - military and otherwise - in KHS' collections was inspired by the success of the Kentucky Military Treasures Online exhibit. New updates and artifacts are added to the catalog weekly.