This week, our hearts are heavy with thoughts of the Stapleton family. Last month Carter County and the Olive Hill community said farewell to firefighter, former city councilman, and Olive Hill emergency management director Allen Stapleton. Then, last week, the family was forced to say goodbye to his son, Grayson Fire Department Captain and Carter County emergency management director, Adam Stapleton.
We had planned to present a memorial piece honoring Allen for a lifetime of duty to the community he called home. We were waiting for an appropriate time to approach Adam to talk about his father’s memory – not too far out, but enough time that the immediate loss wasn’t still so raw.
Now, that planned memorial piece, when it runs, will be for two.
We know it will come as small comfort to the family mourning their loss, but Allen and Adam were heroes. They had no superpowers. They didn’t wear capes. But they gave of their time, of themselves, and of their resources to keep others in their communities safe.
John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
They may not have lost their lives in the line of duty, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t ready to take the risk. To their children, grandchildren, and loves ones – we’re sorry. We mourn with you. Our communities were richer for their presence and poorer for their loss. They will be missed.
