CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Patriot Guard Riders to honor WWII veteran on Sunday

Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - 4/5/2017

April 05--FULTON -- A deceased World War II veteran will receive a patriot's escort through north Mississippi on Sunday.

The strange last days of Pvt. Robert D. Brooks have garnered national media attention. On March 5, the 89-year-old's body was discovered in a suitcase in a field in Prairie County, Arkansas.

An autopsy revealed he died of natural causes, but two people were taken into custody for crimes committed while taking his body from Johnstown, New York, to Arkansas.

It took about three weeks to work out the details so Patriot Guard Riders on motorcycles could take Brooks' cremated remains from Little Rock to his final resting place, a cemetery near Columbia, South Carolina.

"We are working to give him recognition and show appreciation for his service," said Don McKibben, state captain of the Patriot Guard Riders of Mississippi.

Brooks enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and was honorably discharged in late 1946. His medals include the WWII Victory Medal and the Army Occupation Medal.

The Patriot Guard, a 501c(3) organization, has arranged the ride with Brooks' son. Though the timing could shift, the Mississippi contingent is scheduled to meet guard members from Tennessee at Olive Branchbetween 2:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday.

"There will be a dignified transfer," McKibben said.

The Mississippi group will meet riders from Alabama for another transfer at the Walmart in Fulton. That's tentatively scheduled to happen between 4 and 4:30 p.m.

McKibben said details are being arranged for law enforcement to escort the riders on I-22. Fire departments, law enforcement agencies and civilians are invited to line up on overpasses along the route to show their support.

"I know the North Mississippi Cruisers and the Gumtree Mustang Club and other car clubs will be on Magnolia Way, the entry to the Toyota plant that runs parallel to Highway 78/I-22," McKibben said. "They'll be there with flags waving."

People also are invited to meet the riders at Walmart. Fulton and Itawamba County officials will be on hand to direct traffic, and arrangements have been made for parking.

The Mississippi chapter of the Patriot Guard participated in 332 funerals last year, which is nearly seven a week.

"When you see those flags flying on the overpasses, that really gets to you. That means a lot to us when people do that," McKibben said. "But it's not about us. It's about the remains on that first motorcycle and showing our respect and appreciation for him, especially in light of what's happened."

According to multiple media reports, Brooks' caregivers, Virginia "Ginger" Colvin and Michael Stivers of Johnstown, New York, were both arrested and charged with abusing a corpse, a felony.

scott.morris@journalinc.com

Twitter: @mscottmorris

___

(c)2017 the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, Miss.)

Visit the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, Miss.) at www.djournal.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.