The office of Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-6) announced on Monday that the United States Post Office (USPO) Meadowbrook Station will be designated as the “Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers Jr. Post Office Building” in a ceremony to be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18.
The late Lance Corporal Rivers, a resident of Hoover and graduate of Briarwood High School, was killed in the line of duty on April 28, 2010, in Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Palmer sponsored the bill, H.R. 4646, that moved to dedicate the specific U.S. Postal Service facility in Birmingham in Rivers’ honor. The bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 24 of this year.
The dedication will take place at the Meadowbrook Station, located at 1900 Corporate Drive, Birmingham, AL 35242.
Palmer will join officials from the USPO, members of Rivers’ family and invited guests for the ceremony.
He is survived by his parents, Dr. Tom and Charon Rivers; sister, Rachel; and grandparents, Colonel (Ret.) and Mrs. Charles R. Doke.
According to officials at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Rivers is the first soldier killed in action to be buried there.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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