Parkchester Post Office Dedicated to the Memory of Bronx Hero

          Postal Officials, family members, local politicians, veterans associations and community gathered in the Bronx to designate the Parkchester Post Office in honor of Army Private 2^nd Class Isaac T. Cortes.

          Through the efforts of New York Congressman Joseph Crowley who sponsored the legislation to rename the Parkchester Post Office after Private Cortes, the Bill was approved by the full Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States.

L to R: Colonel US Army Eluyn Gines, Mother Emily Toro, Congressman Joseph Crowley, and Bronx Postmaster Elvin Mercado unveil plaque renaming the Parkchester Post Office after Bronx native son Private Isaac T. Cortes

Private 2nd Class Isaac T. Cortes

          Private Cortes grew up in the Bronx and in preparation for a career with the NYPD, enlisted in the Army in 2006. In September of 2007, he was sent to Iraq where he participated in mounted and dismounted patrols. Isaac engaged in weapons cache searches and Humanitarian Aid missions to the local people. On November 27, 2007, Private Isaac T. Cortes was one of two soldiers killed when an improvised explosive device was detonated as his vehicle rode past in Amerli Iraq, about 100 miles north of Baghdad.

          At the event held right outside the Post Office, Master of Ceremonies, Bronx Postmaster Elvin Mercado told the large congregation, “It is particularly fitting that this building, which is housed in the community where Isaac was born and raised, should be dedicated in his honor. Isaac’s name on its walls will reflect the appreciation we feel for the leadership he exercised while serving his country to protect the freedom of the American people.”

          Private Cortes received many awards and decorations; including the Purple Heart, The Bronze Star, The National Defense Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

          The Postal Service employs more than 116,000 veterans which is approximately 21 percent of the career workforce. Roughly one-third of USPS vets are rated 30 percent or more disabled. Nearly 15,000 employees in the Northeastern United States are military veterans.