WEST RICHLAND WA — The U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute to Marine Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman by dedicating the West Richland Post Office in his honor during a ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, in front of the post office, 4801 West Van Giesen Street.

A plaque will be set at the West Richland Post Office, placing Sgt, Schmieman’s name on the building.  The West Richland Post Office will retain its name.  U.S. Fourth District Congressman Dan Newhouse sponsored legislation to authorize the dedication event.

Sgt. Schmieman, who grew up in central Washington State, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, after high school. He was serving in the 2nd Raider Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when he was tragically killed in a military cargo plane crash in July 2017.

This is the third post office in Washington State to be dedicated in the name of a local citizen.  In February 2012, the Postal Service dedicated the Rolling Bay Post Office on Bainbridge Island in honor of John “Bud” Hawk, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, who was born and raised on Bainbridge Island.  In August 2014, the Eatonville Post Office was dedicated in the name of Margaret Anderson, a National Park Ranger, who was shot and killed by a fleeing murder suspect.

The Postal Service 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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