June 30, 2025
What:
Letter Carrier Jose Rivera will receive his 40-year pin U.S. Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) in partnership with the United States Postal Service, will host a dedication and plaque presentation ceremony at the Mission Viejo Post Office in honor of Major Megan McClung. The United States Postal Service welcomes the public to attend this free event.
Who:
Young Kim, Congresswoman, CA-40
Robert Garcia, Acting Postmaster Mission Viejo Post Office
Robert Fernandes, USPS CA-4, Customer Relations Manager
The McClung Family
Bob Ruesch, Mayor, City of Mission Viejo
Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton Bob
Wendy Bucknum, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Mission Viejo
Pastor Mike Maiolo, Mission Viejo Christian Church
Bethany Kelley, singer
When:
Thursday, July 3, 2025, 11 a.m.
Where:
Mission Viejo Post Office
28081 Marguerite Pkwy,
Mission Viejo, CA 92690
Background:
On November 24, 2024, Public Law No: 118-112 designated the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 28081 Marguerite Pkwy,
Mission Viejo, CA 92690, as the “Major Megan McClung Post Office Building.”
Major McClung grew up in Mission Viejo, graduating from Mission Viejo High School before attending the United States Naval Academy.
McClung came from a line of service, born to a family with a decorated history of military service – her paternal grandfather was a World War II veteran, and her father was a USMC infantry officer who served in Vietnam and saw combat in the Tet Offensive.
In 1995, she was commissioned to the Marines. A decade later in 2006 at just 34 years old, she entered a year-long deployment serving as a Public Affairs Officer.
McClung would reinforce a mantra with her team before any press assignment: Be Brief, Be Bold, Be Gone.
Major McClung died in action in Ramadi, Iraq on December 6, 2006, during the last month of her year-long deployment. She was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
She was the first female Marine officer to be killed in the Iraq War and the first female graduate of the United States Naval Academy to be killed in action since the school’s founding in 1845.
Major McClung’s impact carried on and her actions left a lasting imprint on all those that had the honor to serve alongside her. The dedication of this Post Office serves as a permanent tribute to her legacy and sacrifice.
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MEDIA ADVISORY