Sacramento veteran honored after losing medals in a house fire

SACRAMENTO, Ky. (WEHT) — In McLean County, Vietnam veteran Richard Smith is being honored for his service and dedication to the community. The ceremony comes as he lost his medals after a house fire back in November 2020.

Sacramento Mayor Betty Howard says the dedication is a long time coming. Friends and family are coming near and far to say “thank you” to Army veteran Smith.

“We lived in a place for 42 years,” Smith says. “So, you can’t imagine the things you lose until it happens to you.”

With help from Senator Rand Paul’s office, Smith was reunited with replicas in May 2023 in Bowling Green. Now locals aree gathering to celebrate Smith’s service.

“I just can’t believe that I deserve all that kind of treatment because that’s just overwhelming,” Smith says.

Surrounded by hugs and support on Sunday, Smith uses the words “heart soothing” to describe the day.

“That’s the word I used in Bowling Green — heart soothing,” Smith says. “It soothes my heart. I can see who I used to be anytime I want to by looking at the medals. This is more heart soothing even than that one was.”

His recognition on Sunday goes beyond his service in the military.

For his support and ability to donate equipment to multiple city projects, the city presents the key to the city to Smith, and he’s made an honorary firefighter.

“We never have to ask Richie for help,” says Randy Sallee from the Sacramento Fire Department. Richie comes and asks ‘what can I do to help?'”

“In the stage of my life I am in right now, the easiest thing for me to do is donate, so they can have all the equipment to help children, people, old people, whatever, whoever in the area.”

Looking back, Mayor Howard believes the city is blessed with people like Richard and his family in town.

“As a small city, Richie is always there, and I really don’t know what we would do without him,” Mayor Howard says. “It would be a very hardship on us because he owns a lot equipment that’s very expensive that he helps us out with all the time.”

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