by Sue DeWitt

The Alden Village Board of Trustees issued a joint proclamation with the Town of Alden posthumously recognizing and honoring Army Sgt. Brett Gornewicz for his service and sacrifice to the United States as the Alden Post Office is renamed the Sergeant Brett E. Gornewicz Memorial Post Office. Alden’s Sgt. Gornewicz was an Army Reservist who was serving his second tour of duty in the Middle East when he was killed in action in Afghanistan on November 3, 2012. He was remembered as a brave and proud but humble soldier who took on the dangerous task of clearing improvised explosive devices as a member of the 444th Engineer Company and who, earlier in his career, had been awarded the Bronze Star with V device for valor in combat for saving the life of a comrade. Trustees offered heartfelt gratitude for Sgt. Gornewicz’s service and sacrifice, as well as the daily service of all men and women in the military, first responders, police and firefighters who give of their time and sometimes their lives to protect their fellow citizens.

The post office will be officially dedicated in Sgt. Gornewicz’s memory in a ceremony on October 10, 2014.