From his 26-year career in the Army to his extensive civic engagement in northern HarÂdin County, Charlie Fraley of Radcliff has lived a life of service.
Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Fraley enlisted in the Army in 1961 and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He went on to serve 82nd and 101st Airborne DiviÂsions and rose to the rank of sergeant major.
Fraley served two tours in VietÂnam from 1965 to 1966 and 1968 to 1969. He said he also was stationed in South Korea and Germany throughout his career.
After being stationed at Fort Knox in 1969, Fraley returned in 1973 and remained there until he moved to Radcliff in 1985. Throughout his time in the Army, Fraley earned a variety of recognitions, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious SerÂvice Medal.
Will Stolz was known for many things in Hardin County, whether it was as a sports official, ordained minister or a more than four-decade career in retail.
The Illinois native, friends say, had a deep-rooted passion for the military and first responders that led to creating a community masterpiece every May with a Hooray for Heroes celebration in Radcliff that honors and recognizes active and retired military, military family members and first responders.
What spurred the idea to begin Hooray for Heroes in 2006, Stolz once said was he .âfelt Fort Knox soldiers needed some more recognition.â
So he and Randy Acton developed the idea and it quickly grew into a Radcliff tradition that continued to grow.