(1) The Kentucky Medal for Freedom is hereby created to be awarded by the Kentucky Department of Veterans’ Affairs to an individual who has been killed in action on or after January 1, 1991, while:
(a) Engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 40.353

  • Action: includes all proceedings in any court of this state. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Armed Forces: means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components thereof on active duty. See Kentucky Statutes 40.010
  • Foreign: when applied to a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, statutory trust, or limited liability company, includes all those incorporated or formed by authority of any other state. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(b) Engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force;
(c) Serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; or
(d) Serving in a combat zone as designated by presidential order.
(2) Individuals eligible to receive the Kentucky Medal for Freedom include:
(a) Members of the Kentucky National Guard or a Reserve Component stationed in Kentucky;
(b) Members of a state National Guard or a Reserve Component who named
Kentucky as a home of record;
(c) Members of the regular United States Armed Forces who named Kentucky as a home of record; and
(d) Members of the regular United States Armed Forces, a state National Guard, or a Reserve component who were buried in Kentucky on or after July 15,
2008, and have a surviving spouse, parent, or next available family member who is a Kentucky resident.
(3) The department shall enter the name of a recipient of the Kentucky Medal for
Freedom on the Kentucky Medal for Freedom roll.
(4) The department shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with
KRS Chapter 13A to carry out the provisions of this section.
(5) The department may receive funds from the veterans’ program trust fund to defray the cost of the Kentucky Medal for Freedom.
Effective: June 25, 2013
History: Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 114, sec. 2, effective June 25, 2013. — Created
2008 Ky. Acts ch. 26, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2008.