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Babylon Post Office renamed in honor of former resident killed serving in Iraq
Through legislation introduced by Congressman Peter King, the U.S. Post Office, at 110 Cooper Street, was renamed the Jacob Samuel Fletcher Post Office Building, in a solemn, well-attended ceremony held in November. "We are very proud of what my son did. Now everyone who goes into the post office will know the name of one of the young men who gave his life to keep us safe," said his father, Marlowe "Moe" Fletcher of Island Park who pinned a set of his son's wings on President George W. Bush when he came to Long Island. Born in Mineola, the third-generation soldier grew up in Lindenhurst then Babylon and graduated from Babylon High School in 1994. During his school years, he was a popular student who excelled at drawing, poetry, lacrosse and wrestling. His father served in the U.S. Air Force and his grandfa- thers served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. Jacob went through basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he earned his paratrooper wings and was stationed in Vicenza, Italy. On March 23, 2006 he parachuted into Iraq with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and served on many dangerous missions. He died November 14, after a roadside bomb exploded in the bus in which he was riding. He was 28 years old.
According to his mother, Dorine Kenney of Bay Shore, Jacob always wanted to join the military. At 8 years of age he tried to sign up through a magazine ad. Later, after sustaining a back injury and being unable to enlist, he realized his lifelong dream following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He was 27- years-old. "It was quite an honor and we are thankful to the post office. Now my son is part of the history books," said his father who added that it "took a very brave, motivated individual to be part of that elite paratrooper unit." Pfc. Fletcher, who was awarded a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, also has a non-profit organization set up in his name to provide military personnel serving overseas with some of the comforts of home. It is called Jacob's Light Foundation.
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