

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Signature Speaker: 1st Sgt. Robert E. Gray III, USMC (Ret.) honoring PFC Willy Frederick James Jr., 
- **Event Start and End Date**: Mon, 09 Mar, 2026 at 05:00 pm – Mon, 09 Mar, 2026 at 06:30 pm
- **Event Description**: The Veteran R.E.A.D.S. Program is honored to welcome 1st Sgt. Robert E. Gray III, USMC (Ret.) for a special Signature Speaker Series event titled Honor Deferred.

This powerful presentation centers on PFC Willy Frederick James Jr., U.S. Army, a World War II soldier and Kansas City’s only native Medal of Honor recipient. Though his heroism was documented and witnessed by fellow soldiers, his recognition was delayed for decades, part of a broader history in which Black service members were denied the honors they earned.

Honor Deferred is about more than a medal. It’s about memory, truth, and restoring a story that should have been told long ago.

? Date: Monday, February 23, 2026, 5-6:30pm. 
? Location: Habitat for Humanity: 501 N. Dodgion St., Independence, MO 
?️ Open to veterans, families, and the community

 Stories matter,  especially the ones that took too long to be heard.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/independence/signature-speaker-1st-sgt-robert-e-gray-iii-usmc-ret-honoring-pfc-willy-frederick-james-jr/200029755850444
- **Event Categories**: 
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 1

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: http://facebook.com/200029755850444?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=independence-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Independence
- **state**: MO
- **country**: United States
- **location**: 501 N. Dodgion Street, Independence, MO, United States, Missouri 64014
- **lat**: 39.09634
- **long**: -94.41071
- **full address**: 501 N. Dodgion Street, Independence, MO, United States, Missouri 64014

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: The Veteran READS Program (https://allevents.in/org/the-veteran-reads-program/25051570)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/ecb16046f0910846f56b91a85391adff776ab559789902de14c8e7e87047e787-rimg-w1200-h440-dce7b33b-gmir?v=1772378800
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/710134b698b9e467a22b8a60ac2882f1c9080299cc6e2241bce70a84e73ff31d-rimg-w300-h300-dce7b33a-gmir?v=1772378801

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Mon, 09 Mar, 2026 at 05:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** 501 N. Dodgion Street, Independence, MO, United States, Missouri 64014
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** The Veteran READS Program
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Signature Speaker: 1st Sgt. Robert E. Gray III, USMC (Ret.) honoring PFC Willy Frederick James Jr.,  ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

```json
[
    {
        "@context": "https://schema.org",
        "@type": "Event",
        "name": "Signature Speaker: 1st Sgt. Robert E. Gray III, USMC (Ret.) honoring PFC Willy Frederick James Jr.,",
        "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/ecb16046f0910846f56b91a85391adff776ab559789902de14c8e7e87047e787-rimg-w1200-h440-dce7b33b-gmir?v=1772378800",
        "startDate": "2026-03-09",
        "endDate": "2026-03-09",
        "url": "https://allevents.in/independence/signature-speaker-1st-sgt-robert-e-gray-iii-usmc-ret-honoring-pfc-willy-frederick-james-jr/200029755850444",
        "location": {
            "@type": "Place",
            "name": "501 N. Dodgion Street, Independence, MO, United States, Missouri 64014",
            "address": {
                "@type": "PostalAddress",
                "streetAddress": "501 N Dodgion St, Independence, MO 64050, United States",
                "addressLocality": "Independence",
                "addressRegion": "MO",
                "addressCountry": "US"
            },
            "geo": {
                "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
                "latitude": "39.09634",
                "longitude": "-94.41071"
            }
        },
        "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode",
        "description": "The Veteran R.E.A.D.S. Program is honored to welcome 1st Sgt. Robert E. Gray III, USMC (Ret.) for a special Signature Speaker Series event titled Honor Deferred.\n\nThis powerful presentation centers on PFC Willy Frederick James Jr., U.S. Army, a World War II soldier and Kansas City’s only native Med",
        "organizer": [
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "name": "The Veteran READS Program",
                "url": "https://allevents.in/org/the-veteran-reads-program/25051570"
            }
        ]
    }
]
```