By Sheila AshKentucky Governor Steve Beshear recently appointed an 18-member commission to commemorate Kentucky’s role in the War of 1812.The bicentennial commission will be administered by the Kentucky Historical Society.Stuart Sanders, Community Services Administrator for the KHS, says it’s important for the public to understand the sacrifice Kentucky soldiers made in the conflict."Approximately 60 percent of the war’s total casualties were Kentuckians. Basically Kentucky suffered more casualties than any other state combined. It really became a political proving ground for a lot of the state’s leaders. Many of the governors during the 19th century were War of 1812 veterans," he said. Sanders says 30 of the state’s counties are named after prominent casualties or officers in the war, including Adair, Graves, Ballard, Hickman and Calloway.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.