U.S. House Passes Bill to Honor Fallen Soldier Ross A. McGinnis

Ross McGinnisKNOX, Pa. (EYT) – The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 433 yesterday, to designate the Post Office in Knox, Clarion Co., as the “Specialist Ross A. McGinnis Memorial Post Office” in honor of a U.S. soldier who died on duty on Dec. 4, 2006.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) on Jan. 21, 2015, and was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee ordered the bill reported by unanimous consent on May, 17, 2016.

McGinnis, a former resident of Knox, died while serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

McGinnis joined the Army’s delayed entry program upon turning 17. He was assigned to First Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment in Schweinfurt, Germany after training at Fort Benning, Ga. The unit was deployed to Eastern Baghdad in August 2006.

On Dec. 4, 2006, McGinnis was on a mounted patrol in Adhamiyah, when an insurgent on a nearby rooftop threw a grenade into the vehicle in which he was riding. McGinnis threw his body on top of the grenade, thereby saving the lives of his four fellow platoon mates.

McGinnis was posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist and was awarded the Medal of Honor by George W. Bush at a June 2, 2008, White House Ceremony. The award was presented to McGinnis’ parents, Tom and Romayne McGinnis.

Romayne is a Knox native, and the town was where she and Tom raised Ross and his two sisters, Katie McGinnis and Becky Gorman.

“I know the Knox community was very much supportive of us when Ross was killed,” Romayne said. “The town had the yellow ribbons on every parking meter, the patriotism, the flags were flying. It was just an awesome sight. It was very heartwarming for us, as a family, to witness that. The community was definitely behind us and supported us through our tough time.”

Tom McGinnis said memorial projects such as this one are special reminders of the men and women who have died for their country.

“It’s a good feeling to know that [Ross’] name is going to be up there, and he will be remembered for what he did. Twenty years from now, people will still be able to see his name and remember that,” said Tom.

The memorial to their son is additionally special because Romayne’s father worked at the Knox Post Office for 32 years after getting out of the U.S. Army.

“It’s sort of ironic the way it all just transpired,” Romayne said.


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