In WHAM 1180-AM talk show host Bob Lonsberry the Smith family has an old friend and prominent conservative voice speaking out on their behalf.
"If you don't put the name on the post office, not just for this G.I. but for all of them, you're not keeping the promise you made,” Lonsberry said. “We've told their families, we've told their communities, we've told the country that these buildings are dedicated in the memory of these service members but if it's some plaque inside that nobody's ever going to see then we've done nothing to honor their memory."
For these radio hosts, and for many others, this is not a partisan or political issue.
"I think that Democrats and Republicans alike fight and die for our country. Democrats and Republicans alike are benefited by the service and sacrifice of those who die for us so this has nothing whatsoever to do with politics or party,” Lonsberry continued. "If it doesn't have his name, it doesn't honor him."
For the Smith family this is a fight that is as much about other families like theirs around the country as it is about Zach.
“It almost feels like an awful waste of time and money and everything; just put his name on the post office,” Smith’s father said.
A Post Office Spokeswoman tells 13WHAM News that only buildings that the Post Office owns are actually dedicated in honor of individuals. Of the 32,000 Post Offices nationwide about 8,600 are actually owned. She also points out that about a third of all legislation passed in Congress is the renaming of Post Offices and other federal structures.
