This week, President Donald Trump signed into law a bill naming a post office in Oviedo Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, a resident of the area who was awarded the Silver Star and killed in action in Iraq.
Trump signed a bill proposed by U.S Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., to name the post office after Cashe. Every other member of the Florida delegation in the U.S. House cosponsored the proposal.
“In 2005, while deployed to Iraq, SFC Cashe saved multiple soldiers after their fighting vehicle hit an improvised explosive device and caught fire,” Murphy’s office noted. "SFC Cashe returned to the burning vehicle again and again to pull his soldiers out of the flames, all while he himself was on fire and exposed to incoming enemy gunfire. He later passed away as a result of his wounds.
Murphy explained why she wanted to change the name of the post office on Tuesday.
“I am deeply inspired by Sergeant First Class Cashe’s story. My goal in designating a post office in his honor is to ensure more people in our community learn about his heroism and selfless sacrifice,” Murphy said. “Although we cannot bring Sergeant First Class Cashe back or erase the pain felt by those who loved him, we can pay tribute to his remarkable life and legacy.”
“Our family is thrilled to have our hometown Oviedo post office named in honor of Alwyn,” said Kasinal Cashe White, Cashe’s sister. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy for her tireless efforts in recognizing the heroism of our brother. We are thankful that she initiated and completed this memorial dedication. We hope this will be another step in the process of recognizing his heroism.”
Murphy is also calling on Cashe to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. Back in March, she wrote the secretary of the Army on the matter. On Tuesday, Murphy said she intends to continue those efforts.
“To be clear, the effort to honor Sergeant First Class Cashe does not end with the passage of my bill. I will continue to fight for him to receive the Medal of Honor,” Murphy said.
