By Rick Rojas

Whenever people go to the post office in Hikes Point to mail a letter or buy stamps, they will also be reminded of the sacrifice local members of the military have made for their country.

Yesterday, the facility on Hunsinger Lane was dedicated as Fallen Heroes Post Office, honoring those killed while on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Diana Wiener, whose son Jeffery died in Iraq, takes solace in that.

"It's a great honor that my son will be remembered," she said.

The post office's name change happened because of legislation by U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-3rd District, which was passed in May.

"I know this is a small gesture, but it is a necessary one," he said. "Each man proved his valor time and time again."

Yarmuth, who spoke with the fallen soldiers' family members who attended the ceremony, told them that their relatives died for their country, but that he understands that closure will be a long difficult process.

"These brave souls made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America, they are all American heroes," he said. "For the loved ones, this is a wound that time can never really heal."

It reminded Ann C. Wright, the postal service's Kentuckiana district manager, of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, her favorite place during her time in Washington, and the line featured there.

"Something about those words -- 'Freedom isn't Free' -- hits me every time I see it," Wright said.

With the name change at the post office branch as a reminder, maybe more people will notice the sacrifice that service members make for the sake of everyone else, said Lucian Young, past Kentucky commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, who attended the service.

"It's a sacrifice, a tremendous sacrifice," Young said. "I'd like to see more involvement of the public at large. I think it would be very helpful for veterans to hear from the average citizens."

During the dedication, retired Brig. Gen. Julius L. Berthold, who served in Vietnam, said he was conflicted during the ceremony. "You have a feeling of guilt that you were able to return home."

Courier-Journal [1]

7/4/2008