Post Office Ceremony Honors Army Spc. Peter J. Navarro

Family, friends, and dignitaries gathered in a moving ceremony Friday to witness the dedication of the Manchester Road Post Office branch in memory of Army Specialist Peter J. Navarro.

Specialist Navarro, a Wildwood native, died in December 2005 in an IED attack on his Humvee while serving in Iraq. He was 20 years old.

Legislation to officially rename the Ballwin branch in his name was introduced by then U.S. Representative Todd Akin, and was signed into law in May 2012. Akin and U.S. Representative Ann Wagner, who succeeded him, were among those at Friday's ceremony, along with a large contingent of Navarro's family and two men from his unit who came from Nevada and Kentucky to be there.

In powerful testimony of his son's service, Jose Navarro told the crowd that Peter never talked about his experiences and the toll that it took so as to save his family from worrying.

"But this is the life he chose and loved," Jose Navarro said.

It was a life he chose to stay true to, even when he came home in July 2005 to bury his brother, who died in a car accident. After he returned to duty, his father wrote to see if he could come home to grieve and recover. Jose Navarro read part of the email response he received from his son:

"I would not be able to live with myself if I left my fellow soldiers here. I need them as much as they need me."

"People say we learn things from our children and young people and I think in this case we do. this is a person who gave as much as any human can give for his family and his country and freedom," Akin said.

Representative Wagner praised Specialist Navarro's sacrifice for a cause greater than one's self and noted that all three brothers in the family served in the Army ROTC.

"I hope that what people take from this is not just Peter's service but a family that was willing to step up and serve mankind so it's representative of all of them."

Saturday, Lafayette’s Air Force Junior ROTC members will host the third annual Peter Navarro Patriot BBQ from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school at 17050 Clayton Road.

See Tuesday's Patch article for details:  Annual Fallen Hero Barbecue to be Held at Lafayette High School

Proceeds from this year's benefit barbecue go to a recreational therapy facility in Farmington, MO, Camp Hope, and in honor of Pfc. Christopher Neal White, USMC.