Per request of Armand Blais, Evans Brown Mortuary, Sun City, the family of Bill Staples has invited the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) to attend the Military Honors of their loved one as he makes his final journey.
Bill Staples was born on 12 June 1921 and died at the age of 92 in his home on 22 November 2013 after a brief illness.
Bill was in the U.S. Coast Guard from June 1942 until November 1945. He was initially at Honolulu Harbor as a Security Patrol and then became a Signalman Third Class (SM3) serving on the USS Arthur Middleton (APA-55/APA-25). During World War II, with the 2nd Marines, Bill participated in the invasion of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Eniwetok, Marshal Islands, Leyte Gulf Philippine Island, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa, Japan.
After the military while in Whittier, Bill worked and later retired from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. In 1963 Bill began vacationing in the Lake Elsinore Valley and purchased a home on the lake in 1976.
Bill’s experience as a fireman led him directly into a program of lending a helping hand to people on the lake who got into trouble. As the Founder and Commander of Lake Elsinore Marine Search and Rescue, (LEMSAR), in 1980, he was constantly vigilant over the lake by patrolling and viewing through binoculars to be of assistance to all lake users.
As recent as three weeks prior to his death, he single handedly towed a boater to Marina West.
Bill was accompanied most of the time by three or four of his golden retrievers when towing or cruising on the lake.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife Donna. He leaves behind his daughter Shanilee and son Greg.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the Mortuary to his final resting place. 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 Friday 20 December 13: 1000 – Stage at Evans-Brown Mortuaries, 27010 Encanto Dr., Sun City, CA
http://goo.gl/maps/du4Mp1015 – Flag line as our Hero is moved to the coach.
1030 – KSU to Riverside National Cemetery, (Staging Area #3 for family, Staging Area #7 for PGR) 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518
http://goo.gl/maps/v0K0E 1130 – KSU to assigned Shelter for Flag line, Service and Military Honors
RC: Ray Gould aka “T-Bone”
SoCalPGR Ride Captain
951-634-4112 Cell
ray@gouldgps.com
ALR Chapter 200
American Legion Post 200
Chaplain & Service Officer
USMC SSgt (Ret) (D.I.)
RC: Gil Zaragoza
SoCalPGR Ride Captain
SoCalPGR Posting Team
res0oprl1@verizon.net
951-440-2136
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 to post your condolences for the family to this link:
http://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?384575 Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our Heroes. No talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
