Princeton PO Salutes Fallen Marine

L to R: Younger brother Jonathan Guzman Rivera, Grandmother, Mother Velma Torres, Christian Guzman Rivera. Photos provided via Facebook

Marine Corporal Christian Guzman Rivera

Marine Corporal Christian Armando Guzman Rivera was a combat engineer for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Six years ago at the age of 21, he made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Today, postal employees and customers who frequent the Princeton Branch pause and reflect on his sacrifice each time they enter the Post Office building. Recently, the facility was dedicated in his memory thanks to a bill sponsored by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL 27th District) and signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Since losing her son, Torres, a 17-year career employee who delivers mail from Miami’s Quail Heights Branch, has made it her job to extol her son’s courage and sacrifice. Both Torres and her husband, Felix, Christian’s stepfather, never miss a patriotic, military or veterans event in Miami-Dade County. They always wear T-shirts with their fallen son’s image.

“The way I see it is that now I’m not only Christian’s mother, but the mother of a national hero,” Torres said.  “This carries a responsibility before the community and the world.”

Homestead Postmaster Ilia Gonzalez served as Master of Ceremonies as postal employees, district leadership, local officials, and community members gathered on the front lawn of the Princeton Branch to pay tribute to Guzman Rivera. Manager, Post Office Operations Joseph Croce, Jr., gave opening remarks.

“Ronald Reagan once said ‘some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don’t have that problem,’” Croce said.

Croce then introduced Ros-Lehtinen.

“I am proud to participate in the deserved dedication of a Post Office for our local hero, Christian A. Guzman Rivera, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us all,” said Ros-Lehtinen. “Christian’s selfless devotion to our country shows the commitment that he had to ensuring we live in freedom and we will forever be indebted to him for his heroism.”

The program continued as Captain Enming Luo, U.S. Marine Corps, reflected on Guzman Rivera’s unwavering commitment to preserving freedom, and then Croce, Ros-Lehtinen, and Torres unveiled the dedicatory plaque, now displayed in the Post Office lobby.