Maupin family stays strong as funeral set

Keith and Carolyn Maupin stand inside the Yellow Ribbon Support Center with their son, Marine Sgt. Micah Maupin, center, on Micah's arrival home from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on April 4 near Batavia, Ohio. The Maupins are waiting for the remains of their son, Army Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, and are planning a funeral service later this month.

Maupin family stays strong as funeral set

By Terry Kinney - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Apr 7, 2008 17:46:18 EDT

BATAVIA, Ohio — The parents of a soldier listed as missing-captured in Iraq for nearly four years will continue their work at an organization that has sent thousands of goody packages to soldiers, even though the reality is beginning to sink in that the Army has declared him dead.

Keith and Carolyn Maupin and numerous volunteers have sent more than 9,600 boxes of donated toiletries, magazines and treats to soldiers in Iraq through the Yellow Ribbon Support Center, along with photos of Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin and a plea to help find him.

It’s been just more than a week since the Army said the reservist’s remains were found northwest of Baghdad, about 12 miles from where he was captured. The Maupins say they haven’t been told details of the discovery or how and when their son was killed.

They are scheduled to get a briefing at the Pentagon next week, Keith said Monday.

“It’s been a hard week, a very hard week,” Carolyn said Friday. “This is not how I pictured this would be, not at all.”

The Maupins had clung to the idea that their son somehow was still alive. Now they’re waiting for the release of the remains, which are undergoing more tests.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_maupinfuneral_040708/