Captain Maples Portrait Unveiled in Historic Courthouse
By Michelle Williams
The 15 th day of May was a beautiful, sunny day, the perfect setting for the portrait unveiling of Captain Andrew Maples Jr. at the historic Courthouse. Family, friends, veterans, local officials, and members of the Orange County African American Historical Society were present as the portrait, painted by Gordonsville Artist, Becky Parrish, was added to the historic Courthouse ’ s walls.
Capt. Maples was a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II. On June 26, 1944, Lt. Maples was leading a group of Thunderbolts from their base at Ramitelli Airfield in Italy on a bomber escort mission into Hungary. His fighter developed a mechanical problem over the Adriatic Sea. Lt. Maples radioed that he planned to bail out when the aircraft reached a safe altitude. A parachute was never spotted, and a search revealed no sign of Lt. Maples or his plane. He was listed as Missing in Action. While missing in action, Lieutenant Maples was promoted to Captain and awarded the Air Medal. One year later, June 1945, the Army declared him dead and posthumously awarded Captain Maples the Purple Heart. Following the unveiling, the Honorable Judge David Franzén read an order into the court record, stating “ in recognition of the exemplary conduct and sacrifices of native son Andrew Maples Jr., ” including President Truman ’ s remarks. “ It is hereby ordered, adjudged and decreed that the court has caused a portrait of Capt. Andrew Maples Jr. to be prominently displayed in its historic courtroom among other distinguished citizens of Orange County, reflecting the diversity of our community and demonstrating that we, the people, are strengthened by that diversity and of which, by celebrating, we can be justly proud. ” Capt. Maples ’ great - nephew, Robert Elliott III, and nephew, Andre Maples Sr., unveiling the portrait.
The Maples portrait is the first of eight new portraits to be added to the historic Courthouse since the 1970’ s.
For the full story, visit the Orange County Review ’ s website for the article, written by Jeff Poole.
Photos of the Orange County historic Courthouse and Judge Franzén speaking with Doris Maples Walker outside the historic Courthouse at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Page 3 | June, 2021
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