Riverhead, NY — The United States Postal Service will dedicate the Riverhead Post Office in honor of Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn. The dedication ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m., Monday, Sept 27, 2010 at the Riverhead Post Office, 1210 West Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901. Congressman Tim Bishop initiated the legislation to designate the “Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn Post Office Building.”

While serving in Vietnam, an enemy grenade landed in front of PFC Langhorn, just a few feet from wounded U.S. Army personnel. Instead of fleeing, Langhorn choose to protect the wounded and threw himself on the grenade, scooping it beneath his body and absorbing the blast. By sacrificing himself, he saved the lives of his comrades. PFC Langhorn’s extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. He was awarded the Medal of Honor.

“As they conduct business each day, the people of Riverhead who visit the post office will be reminded of PFC Langhorn's extraordinary service and sacrifice, and can reflect on the true value of freedom. They will know that PFC Garfield M. Langhorn was a national hero, and the values for which he gave his life – honor, loyalty, family – will forever be memorialized," said Congressman Bishop.

Congressman Tim Bishop, U.S. Postal Service Long Island District Manager Ken Hale, Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 11 and the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center will participate in the Post Office dedication ceremony. They will be joined by members of the Langhorn family and many community dignitaries.

Customers wishing to obtain a postmark should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others, insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdi¬ness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: PICTORIAL POST¬MARK, Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn Station Postmark, Postmaster Riverhead, NY 11901 before Oct. 27.

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.