WHAT:

Dedication of the North Kingstown Post Office to the Honorable Melvoid J. Benson

WHO:

Elizabeth Estes, niece of Mel Benson
The Honorable Gina Raimondo, RI Governor
The Honorable Jack Reed, US Senator
The Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse, US Senator
The Honorable James Langevin, US Representative
The Honorable David Cicilline, US Representative
The Honorable Kerry McKay, President, North Kingstown Town Council
David Mastroianni, District Manager, US Postal Service

WHEN:

Sunday, September 25, 2016  1 PM

WHERE:

North Kingstown Post Office
7715 Post Road
North Kingstown, RI

Background:

The North Kingstown Post Office will be dedicated to The Honorable Melvoid Benson at 1 P.M. on September 25th at the Post Office, the first Rhode Island Post Office to be named for an African American. The dedication is a result of Public Law (P.L.) 114-173, introduced by Congressman Jim Langevin and signed by the President of the United States on June 13, 2016.

In addition to the above speakers, the program will also feature an Honor Guard from the RI State Police; the National Anthem, sung by Richard Johnson of the First Baptist Church of North Kingstown; the Pledge of Allegiance led by Aiden and Kyleigh Felice; music by the North Kingstown United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of North Kingstown Choirs; and remarks by family friend Michael “Mac” Cullen.  Reverend Lori Eldridge will offer the invocation and benediction.

“Be the Match," the RI Blood Bank registry, will be on site to provide information on becoming a Bone Marrow donor. Mrs. Benson lost her son Estes to Leukemia in 1996. She was an active member of their Patient Services Committee, and was committed to supporting all aspects of Bone Marrow donor searches and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Scouts from Girl Scout Senior Troop 1280 will also be on hand to hand out programs, as Benson was an avid supporter of the Girl Scouts.