SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, MALONEY ANNOUNCE BILL TO NAME MONROE POST OFFICE IN ORANGE COUNTY IN HONOR OF FALLEN CIA OFFICER GREGG DAVID WENZEL HAS CLEARED CONGRESS; NOW HEADS TO PRESIDENT’S DESK FOR FINAL SIGNATURE – URGE PRESIDENT TO SIGN BILL INTO LAW, NAME POST OFFICE AFTER CIA HERO

With President’s Final Signature, Post Office Would Be Renamed for CIA Officer Gregg Wenzel As Tribute to His Bravery and Dedication

Schumer, Gillibrand, Maloney: Renaming Monroe Post Office After Wenzel is Fitting Honor For Man Who Paid Ultimate Sacrifice to Protect Our Freedom

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Sean Patrick Maloney announced that 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” has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. With passage secured in both chambers of Congress, the bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. Schumer, Gillibrand and Maloney today urged the President to sign the legislation and make it law. With this final signature, the post office would be renamed in honor of Gregg David Wenzel, a Monroe native who lost his life while serving in the CIA. Schumer, Gillibrand and Maloney 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.

“Called to serve his country following the horrific events of September 11th, Mr. Wenzel paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect the freedoms we all know and cherish,” said Senator Schumer. “He is an incredible local hero and a true American. Naming the Monroe Post Office after him would be a truly fitting tribute to his courage, and allow his legacy to live on in an enduring way. I am honored to be able to announce that the bill to rename the post office has now cleared Congress, and I am confident that it will receive a signature from the President upon arriving on his desk.”

“Officer Gregg David Wenzel will forever be remembered by the Monroe community as a true hero,” said Senator Gillibrand. “He bravely answered the call to duty on behalf of our nation and put his life on the line to protect our freedoms. Naming the Monroe Post Office after Officer Wenzel will honor his life and commemorate his legacy. I am pleased this legislation has passed Congress and look forward to the President signing it into law.”

“Gregg Wenzel represents an entire generation who bravely served their country by answering the call to service following the attacks of September 11th. Serving on the frontlines of our intelligence operation, he ultimately sacrificed his life in defense of our freedoms. Our country owes a debt of gratitude to Gregg and his family, and for generations to come his hometown will be reminded of his service and sacrifice. Although no one can ever fully repay his family for their tragic loss, I hope this bill will come as some small comfort and as a tribute to his memory,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.

“We want to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congressman Maloney, and their staffs, for working so hard to make this happen for our family. This is recognition for those officers like our son who serve their country, but not in uniform. They work unrecognized in dangerous circumstances. Now we’re so happy that it’s happening, and so proud that our community as well as our children and grandchildren will see this,” said Gladys and Mitchell Wenzel.

Wenzel was a native of Monroe, NY and graduate of Monroe-Woodbury 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 post-9/11 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 11-year anniversary of his death.

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