Yesterday on Juneteenth, the Lexington Freedom Train Committee unveiled a new monument honoring Lewis and Harriet Hayden on North Limestone Street in Lexington.

Designer and world renowned sculptor Basil Watson spoke at the ceremony.

I will keep it simple.

I'm a man more of images than words, but an old African proverb states that if you want to go fast, go alone.

If you want to go far, go together.

And the theme of this sculpture is about the work with Harriet and Lewis moving together not just by themselves, but with the community that they carried with them and the community to which they went, and the community that they fought for all their lives.

And I hope that this sculpture will motivate people to recognize that they need to go together.

They need to work together, stick together.

And that's the only way we will sustain and maintain and go towards freedom.

While our federal government tries to erase a lot of our history.

Today in Kentucky, we're celebrating it.

We are celebrating.

We are celebrating it and committing to preserving important people like Lewis and Harriet.

We're committed to celebrating these leaders and educating ourselves about the aspects of our history that have been for too long, overlooked.

I want to say that up with history.

As you all know, it's I say under assault.

You know, people want to cover up what happened.

But it is part of part of who we are as who we were and part of who we are now is who will we become?

And history is always important to know where we came from, so we can know where we're going.

And the name of our work is toward freedom.

I want you to think about those two words, because it's not a static phrase.

It speaks of movement, of progress, of work still to be done, saying that though they would be proud, but they were to remind us that the work of freedom is never finished.

Toward freedom is not just the name of the statue.

It's a direction, a calling.

When future generations stand here, when they look upon the statue, may they not only remember, but may they be moved to act, to lead, to carry us further toward freedom.

Thank you.

If you know anything about the Hayden, the story is very prolific, and you had to be able to tell that story within one sculpture piece.

So that's not easy.

But in this particular piece, their silhouette and the direction that they are saluting towards.

Talks about the continuing struggle towards freedom and that they did it together and that it's a unified strength.

And if you look at their faces, they looking to the sky, you see.

So they let you know that there was a lot of faith there, a lot of belief in God.

You know, in that carriage, in that struggle.

So, when he captured that, I was like, that's pretty, pretty awesome.

We cannot turn away from even the most painful moments and pretend they don't exist.

Instead, we must learn from them and make progress for that better tomorrow.

And that's what we're doing, right here today in Lexington, Kentucky.

The monument will act as the centerpiece for a new park on North Limestone Street.

The park will feature a timeline, starting with the founding of Lexington.

Through the Hayden's lives and into the present day.