Family of Kentucky World War II veteran attends posthumous awards ceremony

Rand Paul presented the fallen veteran’s family with his medals.

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (FOX 56) – Senator Rand Paul joined the family of a World War II veteran to honor his service to the nation.

The Bronze Star award ceremony, hosted by Paul, honored the late World War II veteran Cecil Steagall. His daughter Pat Ginter was present with the family to accept the awards. Ginter said the award meant a lot to her.

“The way he told us the story, we couldn’t find any records because the records were from that time period. The building burned down and the records from 1921 to ’73 were destroyed, so we could find out very little,” Ginter said.

This is one example of why Paul’s office is committed to presenting these honors to the families of the fallen, to ensure that their service is never forgotten and their recognition is not lost over the years.

“I asked them if they ever had the medals, and I think some of them never got them. Some veterans just never came back and spent all that time going through the paperwork to get them. Our office specializes in this and we’ve helped a lot of veterans get their medals. Sometimes they lose them in a house fire, sometimes they get stolen, sometimes they were just never applied for.

You can see the gratitude of the family. I think they are very happy about it and it is also a way to remember them and their loved ones,” Paul said.

With posthumous awards, the true recipient does not live to see the ceremony, but the family has a good idea of ​​what it would mean to the fallen hero.

“He was very shy. He didn’t like being the center of attention, so he was very modest,” Ginter said.

Ginter said her father did not serve for recognition, but to protect his country, so she and her family proudly represent him through these awards.

“I’m just incredibly grateful that we got this help. Senator Paul’s staff was excellent. They really helped me because I had no idea what I was doing,” Ginter said.