California news

July 27, 2023

Boyle Heights community celebrates the dedication of the Boyle Post Office in honor of Private Jacob Cruz

What:

U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), in partnership with the United States Postal Service, will host a dedication and plaque presentation ceremony for the dedication of the Boyle Post Office in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Private Jacob Cruz. The United States Postal Service welcomes the public to attend this free event.

Who:

Congressman Jimmy Gomez
The Cruz family
Los Angeles Postmaster Jeremie Six
Boyle Station Manager Hector Ortega

When:

Saturday, July 29, 2023, 9 a.m.

Where:

Boyle Post Office
2016 East 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90003-9998

MEDIA ONLY: RSVP to natashi.l.garvins@usps.gov

Background:

President Biden signed into public law, bill H.R. 5900, December 27, 2022, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2016 East 1st Street in Los Angeles, California, as the “Marine Corps Reserve PVT Jacob Cruz Post Office”.  The bill was introduced by Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34) on November 5, 2021.

Born in 1925, Jacob Cruz was only 17 years old asked his mother for permission to enlist in the Marine Corps. Pvt. Cruz served in Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. On November 22, 1943, while running ammunition boxes to gunners on the front line amid heavy enemy fire on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, Pvt. Cruz courageously lost his life.

Pvt. Cruz's heroic devotion to duty played a vital role in enabling U.S. forces in maintaining a foothold in the Pacific. As a result of Pvt. Cruz’s service and sacrifice, he was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Nearly 80 years after Pvt. Cruz’s was declared missing in action, archaeologists identified his remains, among others in 2019, and on March 25, 2021, Pvt. Cruz’s remains were finally laid to rest with full military honors.

# # #

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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