What:

Dedication of Seminole Post Office Building to Army SSG Ryan Christian Knauss

Who:

U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13)
Mayor Leslie Waters, Mayor of Seminole
Russell Warr – Postmaster, Seminole
Pastor Brent Stancil, Community Bible Baptist Church
Robert Gaskin, Florida 2 Manager, Customer Relations
Major General Will Beaurpere
Staff Sergeant Bradely Tsiopos

When:

Thursday, July 3, 2025, 11:00 a.m.
This event is free and is open to the public.

Where:

Seminole Post Office, 9355 113th Street, Seminole, Florida 33772

Background:

The U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Christian Knauss Post Office dedication honors the life and service of a hometown hero from Corryton, Tennessee. From a young age, Ryan Knauss was determined to serve his country. Before beginning high school, he requested a transfer from Berean Christian School in East Knoxville to Gibbs High School in Corryton specifically to join the Junior ROTC program and begin preparing for military service.

During his senior year, Knauss was eager to enlist but was still underage. Undeterred, he brought an Army recruiter home, and his parents recognizing his determination signed the paperwork that allowed him to enlist early. While attending high school, Knauss also worked at a pizza parlor in Knoxville, where he met his future wife, Alena Scarlett. The two began dating and later married while he was in basic training.

Knauss completed basic training at Fort Benning and continued training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2017 as a gunner. Upon returning to the U.S., he completed both the Psychological Operations Assessment and Selection Course and the Psychological Operations Qualification Course. He was assigned to B Company, 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne).

At the age of 23, Staff Sergeant Knauss lost his life during a volunteer mission to help evacuate civilians to safety. His actions reflected the very ideals he aspired to from a young age - courage, service, and selflessness. The naming of this Post Office serves as a permanent tribute to his legacy and sacrifice.

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