BELLEVILLE, NJ – Patriotism, family, community, and public service were celebrated at the May 20 plaque unveiling ceremony for Public Law 115-318 dedicating the Belleville Post Office on Washington Avenue to Medal of Honor recipient Private Henry Svehla.

Ceremony participants included: Anthony Svehla – nephew of Private Henry Svehla, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Congressman Albio Sires, Belleville Mayor Michael Melham, USPS Northern NJ District Manager Michael Deignan, USPS Northern NJ District Marketing Manager Mariset Arroyo, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Morgan, U.S. Army Captain Adrienne M. Smith, American Legion Post 150 Honor Guard, Belleville High School Choir, USPS Newark NJ Customer Service Manager Dennis Martin, USPS Newark NJ Maintenance Employee / Chaplain Fredd Mulligan.

Henry Svehla, who was born in Newark and lived for a time in Belleville, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism in the act that cost him his life in the Korean War. When an enemy grenade landed among a group of his comrades, Private First Class Svehla, without hesitation and undoubtedly aware of extreme danger, threw himself upon the grenade. Decades later, in a review of his action, his award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor and presented in 2011 to his surviving family members.

Reflecting on Public Law 115-318, USPS Northern NJ District Manager Michael Deignan said, “This post office in Belleville earns another large mission today: to be a proud reminder… and to be a worthy reflection of Private Svehla.”

“Every time people walk through the doors of the Private Henry Svehla Post Office Building, they will walk through a living monument to a great American who grew up right here in Belleville and believed in our greatest values, a young man who went to war so that others might be free and, who in the midst of battle, gave his own life so that others might live,” said U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.  “May God Bless America and the life of Henry Svehla.”

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