Davis’ bipartisan bill to honor fallen Illinois soldier signed into law

President Joe Biden on June 15 signed into law a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) to designate the United States Post Office facility at 200 East Main Street in Maroa, Ill., as the Jeremy L. Ridlen Post Office.

The facility will be named in honor of U.S. Army Specialist Jeremy Ridlen, who was born and raised in Maroa and attended Illinois State University with his twin brother, Jason. In college, they both signed up for the Illinois National Guard and were assigned to the 1544th Transportation Company based in Paris, Ill., and in 2003 were deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, where SPC Jeremy Ridlen served as a gunner. He was killed in action in May 2004.

“As a member of the Army National Guard, Specialist Jeremy Ridlen gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of his country and we remain eternally grateful,” said Rep. Davis. “Designating this post office in honor of Jeremy will serve as a testament to his bravery and a reminder of all those who laid down their life for the United States of America.”

Rep. Davis introduced H.R. 3579 in May 2021 to designate the post office in Jeremy Ridlen’s name along with 13 original cosponsors from Illinois, including U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (R-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Cheri Bustos (D-IL).

The U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 1 approved H.R. 3579 and the U.S. Senate on May 25 gave it unanimous consent before presenting it to the president on June 9 for his signature to make the bill law.