Post office named for local war hero

PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh Post Office now honors the memory of a decorated war hero.

The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 6930, legislation authored by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R, NY-21) to designate the 10 Miller St. site as the Ross Bouyea Post Office Building.

“I am thrilled that my House colleagues from districts across the nation supported my legislation to honor North Country war hero Ross Bouyea,” Stefanik said in a news release.

“Over the course of his service with the U.S. Army’s 83rd Infantry Thunderbolt Division, Ross Bouyea played a role in some of the most pivotal moments of the Second World War.

"Mr. Bouyea landed on Omaha Beach following the allied invasion of Normandy and saw 244 total days of combat that stretched across Europe.

"During this time, Mr. Bouyea fought in the Hurtgen Forest during the Battle of the Bulge and faced some of the harshest conditions that the war had to offer."

Bouyea was also part of the division that liberated the Langenstein sub-camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945.

“By the end of the war, Mr. Bouyea’s unit had received seven distinguished unit citations, and he personally had earned three service medals," Stefanik noted.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

She said Bouyea's service to his country didn't end when he was honorably discharged in 1945 because he "continued to play a significant role in his community in the later years of his life.

"In addition to sharing his story with local schools in his hometown of Plattsburgh, Mr. Bouyea worked with North Country Honor Flight to fly his fellow veterans to visit our nation’s war memorials in Washington, D.C."

He had taken part in an Honor Flight himself in 2013.

Bouyea died on March 11, 2018.

LOSING VETERANS

Barrie Finnegan, executive director of North Country Honor Flight, said Bouyea had been the face of the local chapter since its inception.

"Ross was always willing to go to all events and presentations; he loved people, especially the school kids.

"His stories have been dropping jaws since he started telling them," Finnegan said in a news release.

"The fact that he walked from Omaha Beach all the way to Germany was impressive enough, but there are stories from all along his route.

"We are at a rare moment in time, World War II veterans such as Ross are passing away rather quickly. The importance of honoring these heroes cannot be understated."

He thanked Stefanik "for putting forth the effort to get Ross immortalized on our Post Office.

"Elise had many interactions with Ross, and her caring for him and all our veterans has always shown through," Finnegan said.

"The congresswoman has been to every Honor Flight but one; she was in Kyrgyzstan at the time. We couldn’t thank the congresswoman enough for all she does for North Country veterans.”

LOVE OF COUNTRY

Judy Stevens of Plattsburgh, Bouyea's niece, described him as "a very kind and generous man who helped out anyone in need."

She said children at area schools enjoyed his talks about his World War II experiences.

"My uncle also went to all of the Honor Flights to send off all of the brave American veterans.

"He fought for the love of his country and freedom for all and is sadly missed as a true American war hero.”

'INCREDIBLY HUMBLE'

Chuck O’Connor of Peru developed a close friendship with Bouyea when volunteering at the Senior Center in Plattsburgh.

"Ross joined the Army at 19 because he felt it was his responsibility to serve his country, and he went off to war not knowing what he would face," O'Connor said.

"He bravely served from Omaha Beach through the Battle of the Bulge and into Germany, fighting to protect our freedoms here at home.

"Ross shared his experiences during the war as a way to honor those who fought alongside him and to educate the young and old alike, not for personal glory.

"Ross was an incredibly humble and caring person, and it was truly an honor to have known him."

He too thanked Stefanik for honoring Bouyea and for her efforts to help veterans.