Hornell / Rochester, N.Y. --- It is a federal policy that just doesn’t make sense to many folks. Especially to those who knew Marine Lance Corporal Zach Smith of Hornell.
In August 2010, about eight months after he was killed in Afghanistan, the Hornell Post Office was renamed the “Zachary Smith Post Office Building” after an act of Congress and the President of the United States. That designation includes a small plaque inside the building recognizing the Smith.
But Smith’s family has always wondered why Zach’s name can’t appear outside the building, or even why a beautiful marker donated to the family can’t be displayed in front of the building or anywhere on the grounds.
Some of the answers they get from the Post Office cite fairness, financial concerns, and the desire for a uniform approach and appearance to all Post Office buildings. A spokeswoman for the United States Post Office told 13WHAM News that, “the identity of a Post Office is the community” and that a plaque inside the lobby is visible and invites customers to come inside to view it. (NOTE: This spokeswoman also passed along this link - to see every post office dedicated in the US click here. In Western NY region the Zip Codes range from 140XX to 149XX)
