WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Yountville Veterans Home Post Office will remain open despite having been considered last year for closure by the United States Postal Service (USPS), says Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) Friday.
Last July, the post office was included on a list of approximately 3,700 others being considered for closure by the USPS. Thompson, who represents the Yountville veterans home, led the effort against its closure.
“Today’s announcement says to the veterans here in Yountville and to veterans across our country that we stand by your side,” said Thompson. “The people who live in this home are heroes who put their lives on the line to serve our nation. Because we fought to keep the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office open, many of our aged and disabled veterans will still have access to their mail, packages and prescription drugs.”
“After a long and careful review, I determined that the customer service options that would be left for our veterans and staff would not be sufficient to meet their needs or our obligation to serve them,” said USPS Bay-Valley District Manager Kim Fernandez.
“We are greatly pleased with Congressman Thompson’s efforts for keeping the post office open at the Yountville Veterans Home,” said Peter J. Gravett, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. “Having convenient access to a post office is but one of the many benefits and services our veterans deserve for having worn our nation’s military uniform.”
The Yountville Veterans Home is one of the oldest in the nation and currently houses over 1,000 veterans, representing every era of warrior from World War II to the present conflicts. The residents range from those who are in the final stages of their lives to those who are trying to adjust from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Yountville Veterans Home Post Office was the only post office on the USPS’s potential closure list that is located in a veterans home. The USPS estimated that the closure of the Yountville Veterans Home post office would only save approximately $1,000 per year.
In August 2011 Thompson wrote to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe urging that he reconsider closing the post office. Thompson also worked with local town and county officials, the American Legion and the California Department of Veterans Affairs to oppose the closing of the veterans home post office.
