Honor Sought for Duarte Marine

U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis wants to honor a Duarte Marine killed in Iraq by naming a local post office after him.

Solis (D-El Monte) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives on Monday, proposing to name a post office on Highland Avenue in Duarte after Lance Cpl. Francisco A. Martinez Flores.

The Duarte High School graduate, who was born in Mexico, was two weeks shy of becoming a U.S citizen when his tank plunged into the Euphrates River March 25, according to his mother, Martha Martinez.

“I think people understand that this is something that is awarded to someone because they’ve done something great,” Solis said.

She said it is important to recognize the sacrifices made by soldiers like Martinez Flores who were born in a foreign country.

“He felt so strongly for this country ... and he wasn’t even a citizen,” she said. “I hope we can remember in a positive way his service.”

Born in Guadalajara, he moved to the United States with his family from the Mexican state of Jalisco when he was 3.

Family and friends who saw the young man grow up say he talked of becoming a soldier since he was a child.

He was awarded posthumous citizenship in April.

According to a June 5 tally from the Pentagon, 12 noncitizens died in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At least seven of them were from California.

Solis said she has gotten positive reactions from several groups about her proposal, including 53 members of California’s congressional delegation and Duarte City Council members. Renaming a post office, however, requires congressional approval.

“We’re absolutely thrilled about it,” said Duarte Mayor George Chapjian. “I think it’s an appropriate measure of respect we’re paying to the family and to Francisco.”

Solis said she hopes to have the post office, the only unnamed post office in her district, renamed by the Fourth of July, when more soldiers will be returning from Iraq.