Oakwood pays tribute to Glasgow

The Oakwood Cemetery Association, 763 Portage Road, Niagara Falls, will hold a gravesite ceremony honoring Capt. William Clarkson Glasgow on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. until noon. In his honor, there will be an Oakwood Cemetery Notable Person Marker unveiling and a POW medal presentation. Materials relating to Glasgow's life and military service will be on display.

Glasgow served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II from 1942-45. He flew more than 80 missions in Europe and Africa during his wartime service. On his last mission, Glasgow was injured when his plane was shot down, resulting in his capture by enemy forces. He escaped and was re-captured. This time, he was sent to a hospital behind enemy lines. There, he escaped for a second time. It took him 12 days to rejoin his unit.

Glasgow returned to the U.S. to serve out the rest of his military career. While performing for a U.S. bond drive air show, he was piloting an experimental aircraft, the XP-55. In front of more than 70,000 people at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, he narrowly avoided the grandstands, which were full of spectators, and slammed into an approaching automobile. Four of the five people in the car were killed along with Glasgow. His body was sent back to his hometown of Niagara Falls, and buried with full military honors in Oakwood Cemetery.

The Glasgow family sponsored one of the new Oakwood Cemetery Notable Person Markers in his name. It will be unveiled during a ceremony that will include a POW medal presentation. The marker will be a lasting memorial dedicated to Glasgow and his service to America.

The Oakwood Cemetery will be open to the public. For more information, visit the Oakwood Cemetery Association website at myoakwoodcemetery.com.