Army First Lieutenant Kenneth Ballard, who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq, will receive the distinguished honor of having a post office in Mountain View named after him.
A formal dedication ceremony was held Saturday.
Since his death in 2004, his mother Karen Meredith has been pushing for the dedication.
“If you ask a family, 'What do you want most?' We don’t want our children to be forgotten,” Meredith said.
Ballard, who was Meredith’s only child died after an accidental discharge of a weapon that was mounted on his tank.
The 26 year old was awarded three bronze stars and a purple heart during his nine years of military service.
“He was so devoted to his country,” said Rep. Anna Eschoo, who introduced the bill that Pres. Barack Obama signed in January.
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“This is I think the kind of tribute that is lasting to him and that future generations that walk in and out of this post office in Mountain View, while they might not know all of his story, they will know that there is someone very brave and very courageous that gave his life for his country.”
Meredith says her son died doing what he loved, serving his country. She says she knows there are countless other families whose loved ones have made the same sacrifice and the dedication of the post office is not just for her son, but for everyone in the military.
“He loved life and I have to keep going because he didn’t get that life and I just want to honor him and all the other soldiers,” Merideth said.
