SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND INTRODUCE SENATE BILL TO NAME MONROE POST OFFICE IN ORANGE COUNTY IN HONOR OF FALLEN CIA OFFICER GREGG DAVID WENZEL
Post Office Would Be Renamed For Orange County Native Who Tragically Lost His Life In 2003 While In Service to Central Intelligence Agency
Schumer, Gillibrand: Renaming Monroe Post Office After Wenzel is Fitting Tribute to His Bravery and Dedication
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that they have introduced legislation that would rename the Post Office at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe the "National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office." The post office renaming would be in honor of Gregg David Wenzel, a Monroe native who lost his life while serving in the CIA. Schumer and Gillibrand said that renaming the Post Office in his honor would be a fitting tribute to a brave American who chose to serve his country following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (DNY) introduced a similar bill that recently passed the House of Representatives. If this bill passes in the Senate, it will head to the President's desk for his signature.
"Mr. Wenzel was a great New Yorker and a true American hero. Called to serve his country following the horrific events of September 11 th, he made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect the freedoms we all know and cherish," said Senator Schumer. "Someone as heroic as Mr. Wenzel deserves to have his legacy live on in an enduring way, and that is why I am honored to be able to introduce this bill in the Senate. Naming the Monroe Post Office after such an incredible local hero would be a truly fitting tribute to his courage, dedication and sacrifice."
"Officer Gregg David Wenzel served his country during a time when it was needed the most," said Senator Gillibrand. "He put his life on the line to protect our freedom and will always be remembered by the Monroe community. Naming the Monroe Post Office after Officer Wenzel will honor his life and create a memorial to forever commemorate his legacy."
Wenzel was a native of Monroe, NY and graduate of MonroeWoodbury High School. He received his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He then went on to graduate from the Miami School of Law and worked as a public defender for a number of years. After the tragic events on September 11, 2001, Wenzel decided to serve his country and became a member of the CIA in the first post9/11 recruitment class. At the age of 33, Wenzel lost his life while serving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 9, 2003. In June 2009, the CIA honored Wenzel and his service by placing a star on their Memorial Wall at the CIA headquarters in Langley, VA. This year marks the 11year anniversary of his death.
