Part 2 of 2 PartsThe Patriot Guard Riders have been invited by the US Navy and the family to honor a young Hero who died on December 7, 1941 in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Kirby Roy Stapleton was the son of William and Carrie Stapleton. He grew up with 5 siblings in Lathrop, Missouri where he graduated from Lathrop High School in 1937, he was very active in school activities including being selected as Captain of the football team his Senior year. He attended college for 1 year and then enlisted in the US Navy in October, 1940 in answer to our young men being called to war to defend our allies.
Kirby was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma which was anchored on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked and the Oklahoma capsized in the harbor killing 429 sailors. Kirby had asked to be assigned to the Oklahoma so he could serve with his brother Delbert who was also on that ship. Kirby was killed, Delbert survived.
Many of them were not identified at the time, despite valiant efforts. Kirby was one of those and he was buried with 46 others in a mass grave in Hawaii. Through the efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, he has now been identified and has returned home to his family.
The PGR is honored to be there to assist in giving this Hero the honor he deserves.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this American Hero. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to the cemetery, approx 6 miles. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time table for Tuesday, 15 OCT 19:0930 - Stage at Miller-Jones Mortuary, 23618 Sunnymead Blvd., Moreno Valley, CA 92553
https://goo.gl/maps/377muAMK8e4CexaW81000 - Mission Briefing
1010 - Flag Line as Hero brought out to coach
1015 - KSU for departure to Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518 (Family Staging area #1, PGR to staging area #8)
https://goo.gl/maps/g8ZziZQJgu1WDVvL81100 - KSU to assigned shelter for Flag Line, Service, and Military Honors
Note - There is a possiblity of media presence.R/C Craig Lane “Jip-C” USMC
SoCal PGR Ride Captainbigredroadglide@yahoo.com
760-900-0388
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our Hero’s. No talking, smoking or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep radios and cell phones off and engine noise to a minimum. Observe all speed limits. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
