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Citizens of Sardis City gathered together last weekend under the new pavilion at Sardis City Park to celebrate Independence Day and honor fallen veteran Roscoe Smith Jr., who was killed during World War II.
Before being deployed in 1944 as a U.S. Marine, Roscoe Smith married his high school sweetheart, Pauline Lonagin, who received his Purple Heart medal upon his death. Lonaginâs son, local resident Rick Morgan, presented that medal to Roscoe Smithâs brother, Jack Smith, at the town celebration Saturday, June 26 â 77 years to the day after his death.
Morgan said he felt compelled to reunite the medal with Smithâs family after he discovered it locked inside a safety deposit box. He reached out to Mayor Russell Amos, who, after tracking down members of the Smith family, suggested he make the presentation at the celebration so the town could be a part of it.