Canadian looking for descendants of war medals' owner in Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN

A unique Christmas present is awaiting family members of Canadian-born John B. and Dora McKay Stapleton, if descendents can be found.

The Stapletons and several of their children immigrated to the United States in 1924 and are believed to have eventually come to the Youngstown area because John and Dora and their son James are buried in Tod Homestead Cemetery on Belmont Avenue.

Also, a daughter, Sue C. Stapleton, is listed as having lived on East Florida Avenue, and Dora’s brother, Edward D. McKay, is also believed to have lived here.

The potential Christmas present is three World War I medals — the British War Medal, Victory Medal, and 1914-15 Bronze Star — that John won while serving in the 40th and 80th battalions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force attached to the British Army during World War I.

One hundred years later, the medals surfaced in the Stapleton’s home province of Nova Scotia, and Canadian Air Force veteran Joseph Maurice “Moe” MacIsaac of Marion Bridge, Nova Scotia, strongly believes they should be with direct descendents of John and Dora Stapleton.

Stapleton’s medals, which have his full name and rank (Pte. private) on the back, came into MacIsaac’s possession as a result of his hobby of buying and selling items he gets at yard sales and flea markets.

In talking with a woman, she said she found the WWI medals in a thrift shop under a plate she was eyeing.

Read more about their journey and how you can help get them to the family in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.