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August 9, 2019
Dear Friend,
We introduced a bill to name the Poway Post Office on Midland Road after WWII veteran, Ray Chavez and last week, we announced the bill now has the support of the entire California congressional delegation, which is a step toward a vote in the House.
Ray was a U.S. Navy veteran, Poway resident, and the oldest surviving veteran of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Rep. Peters speaks at a press conference on his bill to name a Poway Post Office after WWII veteran Ray Chavez. Watch the livestream here.
A legacy of service.
Ray joined the Navy in 1938, where he was assigned to the USS Condor, a minesweeper stationed at Pearl Harbor. His ship was the first to report sightings of a Japanese submarine in restricted waters just before the vessel’s shift ended. Ray was home in nearby Ewa Beach when the bombing started early morning on December 7, 1941.
Ray was a beloved member of the San Diego community. Born the son of Mexican immigrants who owned a small wholesale flower business, Ray spent his childhood in Old Town and later, Logan Heights. Ray returned to San Diego following his military service, worked for 30 years as a groundskeeper at UC San Diego, and eventually started his own landscaping business in Poway.
A tribute to all our veterans.
When asked about his service, Ray would often reply: “I was just doing my job.” That is the same answer many in the Greatest Generation would give, upholding their shared values of personal responsibility, humility, and honor.
A proud military town, San Diego knows the profound sacrifices of our servicemembers on the battlefield and at home. In some ways, this post office is for all our veterans. It’s just one way we can honor and thank them for their service.
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