New Orleans, LA, October 15, 2010 -

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao (LA-2) spoke at the dedication ceremony honoring Roy Rondeno, Sr. at 2000 Louisiana Ave.

Cao authored H.R. 3951, designating the Uptown Post Office as the "Roy Rondeno, Sr. Post Office Building,” which was signed into law by President Obama on June 28, 2010.  As a result, the event officially honored Mr. Rondeno’s service as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) with a plaque unveiling and building dedication.

Cao said, “To those whom he served, Mr. Rondeno was a great letter carrier, civil servant, New Orleanian, American, veteran, and friend.  To those he leaves behind, he was a loyal and loving husband, father, brother, and friend.  I am proud of his service to the postal service, the United States Military, and the citizens of New Orleans, and I am proud to dedicate this post office in his honor.”

Mr. Rondeno, a 34-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, a military veteran and the epitome of a loyal and beloved public servant and community member, died from injuries suffered in a September, 2009 automobile accident that occurred while he was working on his day off because the postal service was short-staffed.

Mr. Rondeno was sorting through mail in the back of his truck when hit by a car that ran a stop sign and severed his legs. Six days later, on October 2, 2009, he died from heart failure during surgery, just a few weeks short of realizing his plan to retire and spend time with his family and recently-founded outreach ministry.

Shortly after Mr. Rondeno’s death, community members and fellow postal workers asked Congressman Cao for help dedicating the Louisiana Avenue Post Office in his honor.

Cao was joined by Mr. Rondeno’s family; Frederick Rolando, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC); McKinney Boyd, USPS Corporate Communications; Pastor Wanda Brown, Flames of Fire Church; Jeffery Taylor, Louisiana District Manager of USPS; Peter Sgro, Manager of Human Resources for the USPS Southwest Area; the Navy Color Guard; representatives of the USPS and the NALC; and community and neighborhood leaders and friends.

Cao stated, “Mr. Rondeno was beloved by the community, his colleagues, and his wonderful family, and I can think of no greater way to honor him than to dedicate the Uptown Post Office in New Orleans in his name as a reminder for all who go there of the dedication and passion of this public servant.”

To see more photos from today's ceremony, click here.