A Placentia post office was dedicated Monday, March 13, to fallen U.S. Army Pfc. Jang Ho Kim, nearly 17 years following his death in Iraq.
A crowd of around 100, including friends and family of Kim, veterans and members of the community, gathered for the dedication in a small lot at the back of the facility at 1400 N Kraemer Blvd. Among them was Rep. Young Kim, who introduced the federal bill signed into law by President Joe Biden in December renaming the branch, along with his father, Seop Kim, mother, Sangsoon Kim, and sister, Michelle Kim.
“This day is just very special to our family,” Michelle Kim, 36, said. “My brother gave his life 17 years ago and this community is still remembering him today, and we’re just so proud of him for leaving behind this legacy.”
Seop Kim said the family will promise to never forget the soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice, adding they are “deeply grateful to the U.S. government” for honoring his son in this way.
The plaque honoring Kim will be installed on the building’s main entrance wall by next week, said Postmaster Javier Flores, who said Kim “set an example that should inspire all Americans.”
Renaming a post office requires a unanimous vote from the state’s congressional delegation to move the legislation to the House floor. Rep. Kim said persistence and “not taking no for an answer” paid off.
“I’m grateful that God has put me in a position to honor his legacy, not just in the memory of his family, but those of us who served with him, went to school with him,” she said. “We’re so glad we’re able to do this in the community where Jang Ho Kim grew up.”
Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, currently represents the 40th congressional district but represented Placentia in the previous Congress before the decennial redistricting process moved her to a new district. The city is now represented by her colleague, Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach, under the 45th district.
Placentia Mayor Ward Smith…
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