Palmyra Post Office Dedicated to Fallen Sailor
This past spring, on March 23, the Palmyra Post Office was renamed the U.S. Navy Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby Post Office thanks to a bill passed by Rep. Tom Garrett and signed by President Donald Trump on July 24, 2017.
On June 17, 2017, Fluvanna native Gunners Mate Seaman Dakota Rigsby was aboard the USS Fitzgerald in the Sea of Japan when a devastating accident occurred. Seven sailors of different ranks were killed during a collision with a Filipino cargo ship.
Rigsby’s parents influenced his decision to serve his country. His father is a U.S. Army veteran and his mother has deep ties with Lake Monticello Rescue Squad. Rigsby played football, became a firefighter, and signed his contract for enlistment into the U.S. Navy all before graduating high school in Fluvanna County. After graduation, Rigsby went to boot camp in Chicago, Illinois at age 18 and shipped off to his first duty station aboard the USS Fitzgerald in the Sea of Japan a year later.
The collision that ended Rigsby’s career and life happened on June 17, 2017. The Fitzgerald was conducting routine exercises within the Sea of Japan. Rigsby was one of the seven sailors who were killed when the Fitzgerald collided with a Filipino cargo ship. Later that day, a chaplain with the U.S. Navy told Dakota’s mother, Shawn Rigsby, the devastating news.
Dakota Rigsby’s remains were flown home from Japan with full honors. On July 1, 2017, Rigsby was laid to rest at Zion United Methodist Church in Zions Crossroads with attendance limited to only military personnel and close family. The Patriot Guard Riders (a group of men and women who help escort a fallen military and first responders’ remains) attended a memorial service that was held at Fluvanna County High School.
Rigsby was not forgotten by the community. Although Rep. Garrett was not able to attend the service, officials from his office brought a personal note and two American flags that were flown over the House of Representatives to present them to Rigsby’s mother at the service. Outside of Fluvanna High School during the service, ladder trucks from Goochland, Crozet, Hollymead and his home station of Lake Monticello had the traffic circle hung with American flags in honor of Rigsby.
Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Sheridan, who taught and coached Rigsby, called the wide support “a fitting tribute to a young man who gave his life in the service for our country. Here we are, coming out for this young man.” Sheridan said, “And I want to thank all of them.”
