National Work Safety Memorial Wall travels to Sharpsburg

The Ashby family gathered to remember Kendale Ashby and honor the other members listed on the National Work Zone Memorial Wall. The Memorial Wall was available for viewing at the Sharpsburg Community Center.

The National Work Safety Memorial Wall traveled to Bath County last Friday afternoon for a ceremony to remember fallen road crew workers.

Sponsored by the George B. Stone Construction Company, the Work Zone Memorial Wall was available for viewing at the Sharpsburg Community Center last Friday and Saturday.

Officials with Kentucky Highway Department, members of the community, and the Ashby family, gathered to honor the 1,400 names listed on the wall.

In January of this year, Sharpsburg native, Kendale Ashby, an employee with the George B. Stone Construction Company, was added to the list of names. He was the son of Virginia and the late Kenneth Ashby.

Mayor Dorothy Clemons and city council members, Thelma June Gulley, David Jones and Patsy Ratliff hosted the program.

As the ceremony commenced mayor Clemons welcomed a group of nearly 100 people gathered in the old high school gymnasium for the event.

“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the City of Sharpsburg and the George B. Stone Company we would like to welcome you to our Memorial Work Zone Safety program. When you see someone working in and around a construction zone, please slow down and drive carefully. Each one these names on this wall behind me represents someones father, mother, sister or brother, who has died working in the line of duty for a construction company by a careless driver. So take heart for what this wall stands for,” mayor Clemons said.

“We appreciate Geo-rge B. Stone and all of his workers and Tonya Ashby and her family for wanting to bring this wall to Sharpsburg.” My sister, Kendale’s mother, attended the Memorial in Frankfort earlier this week, but that was very hard for her and couldn’t be here with us today, but she is in our hearts and prayers as we honor her son and all those who have lost their lives in the work zone,” Clemons said.

Rev. Darryl Ashby gave the scripture and prayer and Tracy Clemons Botts sang “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

Bart Bryant, with District 9 Kentucky Highway Department, spoke to the crowd on the importance of work zone safety.

“Respect the barrels, respect the signs, and the flags, please slow down, distracted driving is an increasing problem with cell phones,” Bryant said.

“I appreciate the city of Sharpsburg paying tribute and the desire to help promote the importance of work zone safety. Today is about honoring and paying tribute to those who have lost their lives in tragic work zone accidents. We will focus on moving forward and what can we do as a community to pull together and say we don’t want another victims name added to this wall, that’s why it’s so important for each of us to promote highway safety. Please, buckle up, and slow down in construction zones to protect yourself and our family of highway workers, contractors and state crews ,who are working to make Kentucky roads better,” Bryant said.

Tonya Ashby, Kendale’s sister, spoke on behalf of the Ashby family.

“First of all I want to thank everyone for being here, for taking time out of your day and time away from your jobs to attend this ceremony and pay your respects to everyone whose name is on the wall. You didn’t have to but you did. There are 1,400 names on the wall. Kendale’s name is in the first row. It’s hard to look at the wall, it’s hard to look at his name, but his name is on the wall,” Tonya began.

“For those of you who came out today, and those who are in the construction world, we pray that you make it home safely to your families. On Jan. 14, 2014, Kendale didn’t make it home and on that day our family changed forever. Kendale was hit and killed by a car shortly after he was dropped off at his work site to start flagging. Kendale worked for the George B. Stone Construction Company in Sharpsburg. I had received a call from my aunt telling me that Kendale had been in an accident at his job and I should get to the hospital immediately. After making several calls to the hospital and not being told anything, I knew it wasn’t good. I called Kendale’s wife Kristy and she told me the words I didn’t want to hear, ‘Kendale didn’t make it. He was killed.’ A piece of me died that day also, he was our baby brother. At 36 years old Kendale leaves behind a wife, four beautiful daughters, Kaneisha, Kendrah, Kenya and KenLeigh. The Ashby family and I have the utmost respect for those working in all work zone areas and pray that you never have to experience the loss that we have experienced. Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Tonya said.

The memorial travels throughout the year to communities across the country to raise public awareness for the need to respect and stay safe in America’s roadway work zones.

Currently, the wall contains approximately 1,400 names, including 14 Kentuckians, who have lost their lives in highway work zones.

The wall includes the names of motorists, law enforcement officers, public safety officials, children and pedestrians.

Last year in Kentucky alone, 675 work zone crashes were responsible for 10 fatalities and 143 injured victims.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, in work zones across the nation, one person dies every 13 hours and one person is injured every 13 minutes.

Guest speaker Sanford Vice, George Stone’s vice president, said, “It’s a shame we have to have this wall ... remember, we don’t want to see any more names added.”