November 20, 2009

The Charlottesville Post Office on Route 29 was renamed as the Corporal Bradley T. Arms Post Office Building Friday morning. The renaming was part of a ceremony celebrating Corporal Arms, a United States Marine who was killed in Iraq.

Arms was born and raised in Charlottesville and attended The Covenant School. In 2004, Corporal Arms was in Fallujah. He heard Marines screaming and said they needed help. Corporal Arms led his squad out of the gate and took the first bullets. He was 20-years-old when he died.

For Bradley's parents, Friday's ceremony and dedication was something other than a painful reminder of their son's sacrifice.

"It's such an honor that Brad was chosen to represent and be a part of the post office. It's such an honor to be here. It really is," said Betty Arms, Bradley's mother.

"We are actually really excited. It's just great being a part of the community this way, and it's just great that they would want to honor Brad and our family. We are very thankful to be here," said Bob Arms, Bradley's father.

At a place where people hurry in to run an errand, and hurry out to continue their day, everyone in attendance took a moment Friday to stop and honor the sacrifice of our soldiers. They hope others will do the same when they see Corporal Arms' name on the building.

"We want them to recognize that a sacrifice such as this impacts a community, and we wanted to make sure this community, Albemarle and Charlottesville, was able to pay respect to the sacrifice," said Major John French.

The same freedom Corporal Bradley T. Arms was fighting to protect when he died.