BY MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
GLASGOW NEWS 1
Two men – one nearly 100 years of age and one not far from 101 – stood in Fiscal Court Chambers on Tuesday and chatted with one another before the regular meeting of the Barren County Fiscal Court.
Glasgow resident Edwin P. Smith, born April 12, 1923, is a World War II veteran, and he was presented with a proclamation read by Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd during that meeting that declares April 12, 2023 as Edwin F. Smith Day in Barren County in celebration of his 100th birthday.
The proclamation continues by recounting the highlights of a small, but vital, portion of Smith’s life.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1941 and survived the war “only to escape death on August 17, 1945, just three days after Armistice Day while on one more assignment to complete five radar-controlled night bombing runs” and return to base, the document states.
Military veterans Edwin F. Smith, from left, whose 100th birthday is next month, and Lee Robertson, who’s already got 100 years under his belt, chat prior to Tuesday’s regular fiscal court meeting. BY MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
GLASGOW NEWS 1
The then-22-year-old pilot was leading other highly trained men on the what was meant to be a practice run when the plane malfunctioned, leading to the collision of two B-29 Superfortress Bombers over Weatherford, Texas. Smith and one other person were the two survivors of the 18 servicemen aboard the two planes, later receiving a discharge due to his injuries.
In addition to that recognition, fellow veteran Lee Robertson, who specified he is 100 years, 10 months and 2 days of age and stated, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” delivered some gifts for Smith on behalf of the Western Kentucky University Alumni Association, with which he’s long been active.
Those gifts included a special certificate recognizing the upcoming 100th birthday of Smith as a 1949 graduate of the Bowling Green Business University, a t-shirt and a book.
Paula Ratliff, a writer who has researched Smith’s story, and Clark Arnold, representing U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, also spoke during the meeting to honor Smith. Ratliff also read a statement from Glasgow Independent Schools offering birthday greetings to Glasgow High School graduate closing with, “once a Scottie, always a Scottie.”
After providing his service to this nation, Smith earned his degree in accounting, owned his own company, married, and became a father, all according to the proclamation.
— Follow this link to read about the rest of the fiscal court’s meeting.
Comments