FRANKFORT, Ky. –
The Kentucky Army National Guard (KYARNG) honored Roger Cunningham and the late Nick Feldman by appointing them as honorary guardsmen for their construction work with the Facilities Management Office (FMO) during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, Aug. 5, 2025.
The ceremony highlighted over 25 years of service of Feldman and Cunningham, who made countless contributions to facilities and training areas with their architectural and engineering expertise.
According to KYARNG Construction and Facility Management Officer Kenny Staley, the Honorary Guardsman award is the highest honor a civilian can receive from the military.
“Nick was cherished by all in the FMO and across the Kentucky Army National Guard, and we wouldn’t have what we have today without him,” said Staley. “His tutelage has built a better force – every engineer leader that has worked in the FMO returns to the field to work in the battalions, and they pass on the knowledge that we gained from Nick and Roger over the years.”
Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Steve King, chief of staff for the KYARNG, and Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, Kentucky’s adjutant general, also provided remarks during the ceremony.
“Not everybody who could be nominated or selected is recognized in such a way,” said Lamberton, as he spoke to Feldman’s family present in the room. “It’s because a lot of folks who are here in this room thought that much of your husband, your dad. Even though he may not have been in uniform, we consider him one of us.”
Lamberton also recognized Cunningham for his dedicated service and presented him with the Honorary Guardsman award as well.
“I want to thank you all for this,” said Cunningham. “When I get a project for the Guard, I look at it as if I am one of you, I’m the troop. I’ve got to go to that armory, or I’ve got to go wherever and do whatever my task is and try to do it to the best of my ability.”
Feldman and Cunningham’s work improved or added at least 750,000 square feet of real property assets within the facility inventory as part of their efforts in design and quality assurance for upwards of $100 million in KYARNG projects.
“Each of you were mentors to our folks and we’re a better organization for being exposed to the quality folks that are present in the room,” said Lamberton. “You’ve had an impact, as did Nick, that will well exceed virtually everybody here.”