Washington, D.C. -  Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (CA-32) is pleased to announce that legislation she introduced to name the El Monte Post Office after U.S. Army Specialist Marisol Heredia, the first fallen servicewoman from the San Gabriel Valley to die in the Iraq war, was signed into law by President Bush (P.L. 110-267).   

“I am pleased that President Bush signed this bill into law, allowing our community to honor the service of Specialist Marisol Heredia. She embodied courage, selfless service and honor beyond measure,” said Solis. “I am proud that our community will have a lasting memory in her honor. I hope we can honor and recognize all of our nation’s servicemen and women who proudly serve our nation.”

Specialist Heredia was born and raised in El Monte, California. One of four sisters, she attended Mountain View High School, where she was a dedicated student interested in French culture and was vice president of the school’s French Club.  She graduated half a year earlier than her class. Out of admiration for her older sister, who served in the U.S. Army and the opportunities that the armed forces could offer for traveling, she joined the U.S. Army in July, 2005.  She was a member of the U.S. Army’s 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Calvary Division, which was deployed from Fort Hood, Texas.

On July 18, 2007 a vehicle she was fueling caught on fire in Baghdad, Iraq. She was evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, for treatment, but passed away on September 7, 2007 as a result of her injuries.  Specialist Heredia is the first servicewoman from the San Gabriel Valley to die in the Iraq war. She was laid to rest on what would have been her 20th birthday. She is survived by her three sisters, as well as her mother and stepfather who were deeply touched by her kind heart and gentle strength.

Seventeen service members from the 32nd Congressional District of California have lost their lives in the war in Iraq. 

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