Avon, MN – The Postal Service held a rededication ceremony at the Avon Post Office on August 17, 2023, in honor of W.O.C. Kort Miller Plantenberg.

Warrant Officer Candidate Kort Plantenberg's legacy is one of service, love for family and friends, a passion for flying, and a commitment to helping others. Born on March 21, 1991, Kort's lifelong dream was to fly helicopters. After graduating from Albany Area High School in 2009 and the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2013, he became a correctional officer with the Stearns County Sheriff's Department.

Kort's outdoor pursuits included fishing, hunting, lifeguarding, and ski patrol. He also contributed to the Minnesota biathlon team for the Army National Guard. Joining the Guard in 2016, he served in Kuwait with Company C, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, aiding in medical evacuation.

Returning in May 2019, Kort worked as a federal technician UH60 mechanic at Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in St. Cloud. He was chosen for the state warrant officer program and aspired to attend flight school, aiming to merge his love for helicopters with weekend flying.

In 2019, Kort Plantenberg lost his life alongside fellow Guardsmen Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr. and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles P. Nord when their helicopter experienced a mid-flight mechanical failure near St. Cloud, MN.

Speakers for the W.O.C. Kort Miller Plantenberg Post Office Renaming Event included Congressman Tom Emmer, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, and USPS Minnesota - North Dakota District Manager Angela Bye.

“While we can never do enough to honor Kort Plantenberg, renaming this Post Office is one honor and one small step that we can take to show the nation’s gratitude to a brave man,” said Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach.

“Anytime a Post Office is renamed in honor of a United States military veteran, it is of special significance for the Postal Service. The Postal Service employs nearly 63,000 military veterans, making it one of the largest employers of veterans in the country,” said USPS Minnesota - North Dakota District Manager Angela Bye. “We know, all this would not be possible without the heroism of Warrant Officer Candidate Kort Miller Plantenberg, whose sacrifice is a reminder that liberty at home must be defended, and that our freedom is something we must respect and never take for granted. Warrant Officer Candidate Kort Miller Plantenberg through his valiant service, has ensured that our rights and freedoms are secure in our homes and the places we work.” 

On December 09, 2021, Congressman Tom Emmer introduced House Resolution 6218. Unanimous support from a state’s congressional delegation is needed for the movement of naming bills to the floor of the House and Senate and is then signed by the President of the United States to become law.

The Postal Service worked with the office of Congressman Tom Emmer to host the event.

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