Monday, May 15, 2006

Paxton Farm Dressage Show Dedicated to The Yellow Ribbon Support Center

Parents of Missing Soldier Sgt Matt Maupin Bring Out the Sun

The skies broke open and revealed patches of blue for the first time in four days on Sunday afternoon, Mother’s Day, at the Paxton Farm CDI and Spring Dressage Show. “That’s because we are here now.” said Keith Maupin, the father of Sgt Matt Maupin, an American soldier from Ohio, who was captured in Iraq April 4, 2004, and has been missing in action ever since. “Since we began the Yellow Ribbon Support Center, it has yet to rain on any of the functions we have done.” It was the third Mother’s Day Carolyn Maupin spent not knowing the fate of her son, whose haunting images of his capture were broadcast worldwide.

And Janet Paxton understands better than others what it must feel like. “I won’t be hearing from my son this Mother’s Day.” said Janet who’s oldest son is a military jet pilot. “He is somewhere on an ocean and that is all I am allowed to know.” The Maupin’s were supported by John and Janet Paxton, and Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, who came to Paxton Farm, learned a little about Dressage, and spoke during a ceremony during a break in the Intermediaire Freestyle class.

PhelpsPhoto® l-r - Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, Carolyn and Keith Maupin, John and Jant Paxton, and Fred and Doris Hessdoerfer