Fairfax Parade To Honor World War II Veteran's 100th Birthday

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — A parade will be held on Monday, Dec. 7 in Fairfax City to honor Jim “Horse” Smith’s 100th birthday. Smith is a Marine Corps veteran who fought in World War II and earned two silver stars.

The parade, which will include friends, family and neighbors, will form at the Country Club Hills Pool parking lot at 3622 Old Post Road in Fairfax at 3:15 p.m. Monday and kick off at 3:45 p.m.

Members of the city of Fairfax Police, Fire Department, Knights of Columbus and American Legion also will participate in the event. Fairfax City Mayor David Meyer, state Sen. Chap Petersen and state Del. David Bulova will be at the parade to issue proclamations.

Smith was born on Dec. 6, 1920 in Cleveland. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1939 where he became an electronics/communications specialist. Smith volunteered for the famous USMC unit Edson’s Raiders in 1941. In 1942, the Edison Raiders deployed to the Solomon Islands where they fought in two battles: Tulagi and Guadalcanal. Smith earned a Silver Star in each of the battles and also was awarded the Purple Heart.

After World War II, Smith lived for several years on Cedar Avenue in Fairfax where his first two children were born. He joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1950 and was stationed in several overseas locations during his career. He retired from the CIA in 1989.

Smith still lives in the first home built in Old Lee Hills on Colony Road in Fairfax. Since retirement, he has been active in St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus and became a world champion skeet shooter.