WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements after introducing a bill to name a United States Postal Service (USPS) facility in Laredo, Texas, as the “Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, Lance Corporal Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez & Sergeant Roberto Arizola Jr. Post Office Building” to honor these military service members who died in the line of duty:

“Many South Texans have given their lives in service to our country and were taken from us far too soon,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Today, I am proud to introduce legislation with Senator Cruz and Congressman Cuellar to honor the sacrifice and bravery of Lance Corporal Espinoza, Lance Corporal Rodriguez and Sergeant Arizola, and I hope it will serve as a reminder of their dedication to our country and the freedoms they died fighting to protect for future generations.”

“There is no greater sacrifice than giving your life to protect your country. Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, Lance Corporal Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez, and Sergeant Roberto Arizola, Jr., proudly represented their country and their sacrifice will forever be memorialized with the renaming of the Del Mar Post Office in Laredo. The renamed post office will serve as a reminder to their community of their heroic lives and will cement their legacy for years to come,” said Sen. Cruz.

This follows the introduction of this legislation in the House of Representatives, led by Representative Henry Cuellar (TX-28):

“Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, Lance Corporal Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez, and Sergeant Roberto Arizola, Jr. paid the ultimate sacrifice in preserving our freedom. Renaming the Del Mar Post Office in Laredo will forever memorialize these local heroes and commemorate their selfless efforts,” said U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D.“Words and actions can never replace these young men, but we can continue to honor their legacies by dedicating this post office to them. Thank you to David, Juan, and Roberto for giving so much to this country.”

Background:

This bill would rename the post office at 2395 East Del Mar Boulevard in Laredo, Texas, in honor of fallen military heroes Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, Lance Corporal Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez, and Sergeant Roberto Arizola, Jr.

Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza lived in nearby Rio Bravo, Texas all his life. Shortly after graduating from high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps. On August 26, 2021, during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, LCpl Espinoza was one of 13 service members killed by a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was 20 years old.

Lance Corporal Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez lived in El Cenizo, a town near Laredo, where he was involved in Junior ROTC during high school, leading his unit to a Junior ROTC national championship in 1998. After graduating high school in 2000, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves. On January 13, 2005, LCpl Rodriguez died in action while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province, Iraq. He was 23 years old.

Sergeant Roberto Arizola, Jr. was born in Laredo, Texas. He graduated from high school in 1992 and enlisted in the United States Army in 1996. Sgt. Arizola had been a Border Patrol agent in Laredo before being deployed to Iraq in May 2004. On June 8, 2005, a day before he was scheduled to return from Iraq, Sgt. Arizola was killed in an explosion near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. He was 31 years old.