DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - The De Pere Post Office was dedicated and renamed Monday in honor of Cpl. Justin D. Ross.
Ross died on March 26, 2011 while serving in Afghanistan, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. President Barack Obama signed a bill into law in June making this day possible.
"After I'm gone, this building will likely still be here and Justin's name will live on," said Ron Ross, Justin's father, who added that this is more than just about his son. "We just want this to be for everybody, but are very humbled that Justin's name is on the building."
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, 8th District Congressman Reid Ribble and De Pere Mayor Mike Walsh were among several guests invited to the ceremony.
Ribble introduced the bill to rename this post office.
"I picked Cpl. Ross because he was the first soldier killed after I was sworn into office in January 2011," said Ribble (R-Sherwood). "I chose him to represent all the other soldiers who were also killed in the line of duty. It is about Justin, today, but it's not just about Justin, it's for all of them."
“Corporal Justin David Ross made the courageous and selfless decision to serve his country and made the ultimate sacrifice,” Governor Walker said. “The great freedom we enjoy in America comes at great cost, and we owe our active military, veterans, those missing in action, and those who lost their lives for this freedom our humble gratitude.”
Ross was born on Sept. 14, 1988 in Wisconsin Rapids. He enlisted in the Army Reserves in 2006 and graduated from Bay Port High School in 2007. Ross was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.
Ron Ross was asked what Justin would say if he could see this honor.
"He would hate this because, when he was a little boy, he would say don't look at me, he just didn't like attention," Ross said. "Hey Justin...we're giving you attention right now."
Ross says that character in the face of fear is what one thing he wants people to remember about his son.