Richmond remembers friends, family members on Memorial Day
RICHMOND – Tradition, honor, memories, family, friends…
Walt Smith, Lexington, bends and lays red and pink chrysanthemums at a grave to remember a man – a former patient, a friend, a veteran – on Memorial Day at Woodland Cemetery.
Before retiring after more than 30 years, Smith worked as a physical therapist and in that role met and assisted Fred Newman.
“He got to be a friend. He bought me a newspaper every day for six weeks while we were treating him, and when we got done treating him, he still brought a paper all summer long,” Smith says while straightening beside Newman’s headstone.
Newman began visiting Smith’s house. They had many discussions, but those did not reveal much about Newman’s military service – a situation typical among World War II and other military members.
“All I know is, he was in the (Army) Air Force on some bomber,” Smith says. “He sighted bombs or something like that. … I don’t know for sure. He didn’t talk too much about it.”
An automotive factory…