WASHINGTON, D.C. – An Elmwood native who gave his life for his country nearly 15 years ago could be the latest local hero to have a post office named after him.
U. S. Rep. Darin LaHood says he’s introduced legislation in the U. S. House that would name the Elmwood Post Office after Benjamin Desilets.
Desilets died in May, 2007 when an improvised explosive device detonated in the Al Anbar province in Iraq as he was returning to base from a mission.
He was with the Marine Corps assigned to Camp Lejune, North Carolina at the time, and was posthumously promoted to Corporal.
“Our country will forever be indebted to Corporal Benjamin Desilets and we can never fully repay him or his family for his dedication to America,” said LaHood, in a news release. “Renaming the Elmwood Post Office is a small but important gesture that will serve as a humble reminder of his service in defense of the freedoms we enjoy every day. We live in the greatest country in the world because of men and women like Corporal Desilets and we will forever be grateful for his sacrifice.”
Desilets would have turned 36 this past weekend.
