FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Gov. Andy Beshear had the Kentucky State Police Honor Guard place a wreath at the capitol building Monday to remember the more than 2,000 lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Monday, Gov. Beshear announced that 2,082 Kentuckians have died from the virus including Chris Perry's brother, Rob of Carter County.
At today's ceremony honoring those who died, Perry said his brother never wore a mask because he didn't take the virus seriously. Perry wishes he had.
"I've wanted to show people pictures of my brother's four different masks he wore and ask them, which is more comfortable? What he is wearing or a cloth mask like this," said Perry showing the mask on his face.
Perry said he never got to say good-bye to his brother in person because the 56-year-old's condition went from bad to worse.
Perry recalled the day his brother was being transported from an Ashland hospital to the UK Medical Center in Lexington.
"The closest I got to my brother was passing him on I-64 in the ambulance. I should not say goodbye to my brother by passing an ambulance on I-64," shared Perry choking back tears as he spoke during the ceremony.
Gov. Beshear commended Perry and Rob's daughter, Destiny for sharing their story.
"You being here shows all of us what this virus is doing but also who we fight for and why we have to do better, why we should do better."
