A Cedartown High grad who went onto a long career with the U.S. Army and later joined the private sector after retirement is coming home to speak at Cedartown’s Memorial Day ceremony.

U.S. Army Col. Chad Smith, Ret., will be coming home to Cedartown to speak to participants at this year’s Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 26. The event starts at 11 a.m.

Smith, a graduate with the Class of 1988 graduate of Cedartown High and a 1992 graduate of The Citadel, retired in 2019 from the U.S. Army after a 30-year career, having last worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama before moving into the private sector. He’s the son of the late Hoke and Linda Smith.

Among his stations included time with the 3rd Armored Cavalry, Air Cavalry with the 4th Infantry Division, the Western Army Aviation Training Site, the 285th Attack Aviation Regiment, the 98th Aviation Troop Command, and the Arizona National Guard.

He has since gone to work for Rolls Royce, where he serves as Vice President of Defense Business Development & Future Programs. Rolls Royce is known for luxury automobiles, but also make engines for commercial and military aircraft, vessels for sea, land vehicles and even spacecraft.

He ultimately helped shape the direction of the Army’s Future Vertical Lift program during his time in service.

The Memorial Day program is held annually at Veterans Memorial Park next to the Cedartown Library on East Avenue.

Alongside Col. Smith returning home to address the community for the holiday, organizers at the American Legion Post 86 also plan to dedicate a new World War monument donated by the Polk County Historical Society.

That monument is being transferred from the Hawkes Library where it was originally unveiled in 1921 to honor those who lost their lives in World War I by the American Legion.

Check back for more coverage of the event on May 27.