COALTON — A field of rock and dirt “will be sacred ground” in about a year, following Friday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East in Greenup County.

State Rep. Tanya Pullin earned an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd of about 500 at the cemetery site after she delivered an emotion-driven speech about the effort to bring a veterans cemetery to Greenup County. Pullin pointed out the area has 77,000 military veterans and no military installation nearby, which she cited as an indication of the values and patriotism of local individuals and families.

“It says that when the call is given —people around here answer,” Pullin said.

The cemetery project has been challenging, Pullin said, explaining she initially wanted the veterans’ resting place to be closer to the Greenup County War Memorial. The decision to put the cemetery on the Industrial Parkway with immediate access from the interstate, however, may work even better, she said.

“I realized this may be the best spot,” she said, explaining the cemetery and the war memorial now serve as “bookends” for Greenup County. “This will be the first thing they see in this county when they exit from Interstate 64.”

From D.C. through Frankfort and into Greenup County, Pullin said many share the credit for making the cemetery a reality.

“The story of this cemetery was written on the beach in Normandy, at the Battle of the Bulge, in Korea and the 38th Parallel, at Iwo Jima, the Berlin Airlift, on ships in the Pacific, at Khe Sanh and Quan Tri and Hue,” Pullin said, adding credit to those who served during times of peace as well as during more recent conflicts in the Middle East. “That is the story of this cemetery and it will be written on white stones for generations to come. Their stories will remain here forever and ever.”

Gov. Steve Beshear said those who will be buried in the cemetery are people who loved their country and believed this nation is worth risking their lives for. Despite the overcast conditions, Beshear said “The sun is truly shining bright on our Old Kentucky Home today.”

“What you see now is dirt,” Beshear said. “In about a year it will be sacred ground.”

The governor said the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North East will be the state’s fourth veterans’ cemetery, and part of an overall plan to have veterans’ cemeteries within 75 miles of every family in the state.

State Sen. Robin Webb said the cemetery groundbreaking was the first official duty in her new role, and reminded the audience to also remember military personnel who were listed as “POW/MIA,” with no opportunity to “come home and be properly honored.”

Near the back of the crowd, Pearl Harbor survivor John C. Toy of Mount Sterling said he believes the cemetery will be appreciated by many, and serve as a proper resting place for veterans.

Vietnam veteran Billy Messer of Boyd County said he is certain the cemetery will be appreciated, and added it is something veterans have earned.

“When you go and serve your country, your country needs to do something for you,” Messer said.

Korean War veteran James Timberlake of South Portsmouth said simply, “I think it is awesome.”